Extreme winter: Parts of Balochistan receive heavy snowfall

Traffic was suspended on the highway between Chaman and Quetta.

QUETTA:

The provincial capital and parts of northern and central Balochistan received heavy snowfall on Saturday along with icy Siberian winds. Meanwhile, the shortage of gas made it harder for people to cope with extreme temperatures.

The flow of traffic between Quetta and Chaman was suspended since Khojak Top, a mountain that connects Quetta with Chaman, was enveloped in snow. As a result, hundreds of vehicles remained trapped on the national highway.

There was light snowfall in downtown Quetta valley; however adjacent mountains were blanketed in heavy snowfall. “Though snowfall was comparatively light, it is good for the environment. Particularly for ground level-water that experienced rapid decline in the past two decades,” said Zabardast Khan Bangash, a well-known environmentalist of the province.

Met office predicated more snowfall and rain in the next 24 hours in major parts of Balochistan. People were seen rushing towards the snow-covered areas in large crowds to enjoy the weather.

Gas woes

However, the low gas pressure added to miseries of the people who faced immense hardship in coping with extreme cold and icy winds. “There was no gas available at all in Mastung town,” said Jahnzeb, adding that temperature dropped below the freezing point.

Traffic between Quetta and Chaman had not been restored until late hours of the evening.

The townships that received heavy snow included Ziarat, Kalat, Ongechar, Mastung, Surab, Pishin, Qila Abdullah and Khan Matherzai.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2012.