The mountains of Thandiani, Abbottabad received their first snowfall on Thursday while Rawalpindi was lashed by winter rain. PHOTO: APP/NNI
An unexpected cold and rainy spell in the twin cities dipped the temperature this week, signalling the arrival of winter and sending residents scrambling for cover.
Most people in the capital were caught unaware, as the weather progressed from mildly cold to freezing at night. A large number of residents had not even taken out their warm clothes to protect them from the chilly winds blowing from Murree, while others headed to the bazaars to replenish their wardrobes.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday forecast cold and dry weather with light snowfall over hills during the next 24 hours.
An official of the Met office said a westerly wave in the country’s which has made the weather chilly will move northeastward and scattered rain is expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat divisions, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday morning.
Nathiagali and the surrounding Galiyat region witnessed the first snowfall of the season. The mountaintops have received up to six inches of snow — forecasted to reach one foot.
More snowfall is expected in isolated places over the hills in Galiyat, Malakand division, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Met office has advised people to remain careful due to the risk of landslide along major roads in Murree caused by prolonged rainfall and blockade of link roads due to heavy snowfall.
He said the rain spell was good for crops in rain-fed areas where they were under moisture stress due to prolonged dry weather conditions.
Meanwhile, three minors died and four others were injured when a roof collapsed due to heavy rain in Safi, Mohmand Agency. Political administration official Jamshed Khan said the children were between the ages of eight and 10.
The roof of Mukamil Khan’s house collapsed early Wednesday morning, when his sons and grandchildren were visiting him to celebrate a wedding. Fazal Shah’s son and daughter and one other boy were killed in the accident, while the parents were also injured and shifted to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Shahid, Habib and Akmal were injured when a hotel roof collapsed on Charsadda Road, Peshawar. The injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital where their condition is said to be stable.
Rain in Peshawar
The provincial metropolis received around 32mm of rain in the past 24 hours, lowering the maximum temperature to 15 degrees on Thursday.
Director Meteorological Office Mushtaq Ali Shah said a western disturbance system had hit Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). In Peshawar the rainfall would end in the evening, while in Malakand and Hazara divisions it was expected to continue till Friday (today) afternoon. “There is snowfall in the mountain ranges of K-P and the cold will increase from now onwards.”
The rainwater converted some city roads to murky lagoons, with overflowing sewerage systems causing many problems to the inhabitants of Peshawar.
The weather in Abbottabad, Thandyani, Galiyat, Kalam, Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi, Nowshera, Parachinar will remain cloudy with chances of rain.
Tourists flock to the snow
Fresh waves of rain in the lower belt and the first snowfall of winter in some of the northern districts attracted tourists to Swat in multitudes.
Snow in Utror, Gabral, Usho, Mahodand, Kalam and Malam Jabba pulled down the mercury, spreading a sheet of white across the mountains. The temperature in Kalam decreased to 5 degrees, while in Malam Jabba it fell below freezing level.
“We were fed up of the scorching heat we face all year round, so we come to enjoy the first snowfall in Swat every year,” said Abdul Kareem, a tourist from Peshawar.
However, locals weren’t too happy as they expect more problems to accompany the change in weather. “The temperature is likely to fall further in the coming few days, which will make conditions harsher for us,” Burhan Khan, a local in Malam Jabba told The Express Tribune.
Every year during the winter season, Malam Jabba and other parts of Swat Valley see an influx of tourists. Winter sports are organised by the district administration and Pakistan Army to promote the local economy.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2013.
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