A groundsman leaving the pitch after matches at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium were washed out. PHOTO: INP
The upper reaches of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have been receiving heavy snowfall and rain since Thursday night.
The heavy downpour caused the closure of Leepa Valley-Muzaffarabad and Taubutt-Sharda roads on Friday.
According to the Meteorological Office, more rain and snowfall was expected in the north of the region in the next two days. It said that Athmuqam received four inches of snow, Upper Neelum Valley got one foot, Havayli got six inches and Leepa Valley received over one foot of snow in the last 18 hours.
The Met Office further said that plains in AJK will remain under a constant cold wave during the next 48 hours. Heavy rain was also expected in major cities of AJK including the capital Muzaffarabad in the next two days.
According to the Met Office, most parts of the Neelum Valley, Leepa Valley and Havayli areas remained below freezing point between the Wednesday and Thursday nights.
The ongoing spell of rain and snow has disturbed the routine life across the AJK and people preferred to remain indoors. Schools, colleges and government offices witnessed thin attendance.
Meanwhile, heavy rain paralysed life in Rawalpindi. Due to the heavy rain, two T-20 matches were also cancelled.
Heavy rain lashed the city, bringing the mercury down and adding to the miseries of people who have already been facing an acute shortage of gas.
“No doubt rain is blessing, but how we can enjoy it when we have no gas at home,” said Muhammad Yaqoob, a resident of Khanapul.
Rainwater puddles on various roads caused by the choked sewerage system also exposed the performance of city managers.
Traffic jams caused by standing water were seen on Liaqat Road, Gawalmandi, Jamia Masjid Road and at Marrir Chowk.
Meanwhile, two T-20 matches --- Larkana versus Quetta, and Faisalabad versus Peshawar --- which were slated to be held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, had to be cancelled.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2014.
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