Erratic weather brings landslides, dusty winds
Islamabad residents throw on whatever cover they can get their hands on to shield their vehicles from nature’s wrath and save windscreens from bearing the brunt. PHOTO: ONLINE
Unsettled weather patterns continued to grip parts of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Saturday, with dusty winds blowing across the plains while persistent overnight rainfall triggered landslides in the northern hilly regions, blocking key points on the Karakoram Highway (KKH).
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Punjab is currently experiencing a range of weather conditions with light rain in some areas, dusty winds in others and cloud cover without rain in several parts.
Temperatures across the province are expected to rise gradually. Rain is forecast for Gujranwala and Rawalpindi divisions, while South Punjab and Lahore divisions are likely to face dusty winds with low chances of rainfall.
The Met Office said that showers at some places may bring brief relief from the growing heat, adding that the current weather system was expected to exit the country by day's end.
In Lahore, the minimum temperature was recorded at 24°C, with the maximum expected to reach 40°C.
In contrast, the mountainous regions of Shangla and parts of Kohistan were hit by heavy overnight rain, which led to landslides at several points along the KKH, particularly in Upper Kohistan near Dasu, disrupting both cargo and commuter movement.
Authorities have deployed heavy machinery to clear the debris, and while limited stretches of the road have been reopened for small vehicles and one-way traffic, full restoration remains pending due to the continuing poor weather, police officials confirmed.
The Chilas to Gilgit section of the highway remains operational. The region also faced intense hailstorms and heavy rainfall, which caused considerable damage to orchards and standing crops.