Four dead as rain, snowfall unleash chaos

Power outages, fatalities, traffic chaos plague regions

PESHAWAR:

The inclement weather in the northern regions of the country wreaked havoc for the second consecutive day on Monday, claiming the lives of over four people and leaving nine others injured.

The severe weather conditions led to the suspension of electricity supply in numerous areas of the province, with casualties occurring due to roof collapses in Swat, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Lower Kurram, and Mardan.

The second day of relentless rain and snowfall on Monday left a trail of disruptions, power outages, and tragic incidents across Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and upper areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Tourists found themselves stranded as their vehicles got stuck in the aftermath of heavy snowfall in popular destinations such as Galyat, Nathia Gali, Dunga Gali, Thandiani, and Ayubiya.

Electricity supply was abruptly halted, while the Meteorological Department warned of more snowfall in the next 24 hours.

In Abbottabad and surrounding areas, three consecutive days of non-stop rain have been recorded, leading to a suspension of business activities. Meanwhile, the upper regions, including Galyat and Thandiani, witnessed over two feet of snowfall, causing the closure of the main Murree Road for all vehicular traffic due to heavy snow and landslides.

Director-General of Galiyat Development Authority (GDA), Shah Rukh Ali Khan, has instructed the deployment of staff with heavy machinery to clear the snow and ensure the safety of the roads.
Efforts are underway to clear the roads leading to Nathiagali and Murree, with the combined resources of GDA and C&W.

Widespread damage was caused by the storm, with trees, billboards, signboards, and electric wires and poles collapsing in various locations.

In Murree, powerful winds resulted in the roofs of numerous houses being blown off.
The disruption extended to the electrical infrastructure, as several feeders tripped, leading to the suspension of electricity supply in most areas. The continuous rain has heightened the risk of landslides in affected regions.

Authorities in Murree district, along with relevant institutions, have been put on high alert in response to the unfolding situation.

Similarly, the plains and upper regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa grappled with the aftermath of continuous snowfall and rains for the second consecutive day, causing widespread disruptions and tragic incidents.

As rain and snowfall persisted, a total of three hundred and six feeders tripped in different areas, leaving most regions without electricity for over fourteen hours.

Compounding the crisis on Monday, 306 feeders tripped across different areas of the province due to the rain, leading to electricity outages lasting more than fourteen hours in many regions.

The accumulation of water on major highways in Peshawar caused severe problems for commuters, with Peshawar's key commercial area, University Road, resembling a flood scene. Despite the cessation of rains, traffic remained gridlocked for hours.

In the low-lying areas of Peshawar, residences near rivers and canals faced water ingress. Local residents rallied to assist in pumping water out of affected houses, demonstrating a community response to the crisis.

Looking ahead, the Meteorological Department anticipates the continuation of rain in the plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and snowfall in the upper districts over the next 24 hours.