A long winter: Heavy snow, rain damages houses
Link roads of Galiyat blocked due to snow.
Engineers exit the Lowari tunnel after trying to reopen it. PHOTO: INP
KARAK/ABBOTABAD:
At least a dozen houses were partially damaged after a storm hit Karak on Monday.
According to an official of the Karak district administration, a storm was followed by rain that has been sporadic since the last two days.
The houses of Usma Ghani in Lawaghar and Abdul Aziz in Momani collapsed after a heavy downpour, said the official.
Houses were also damaged in Nakht Nusrati, Lawaghar and Faqirabad. Large trees were uprooted, blocking multiple roads leading to different areas in the district. Crops have also been destroyed by snow and rain, added the official.
Meanwhile, heavy snowfall was also recorded in areas of Upper Dir, Chitral and Upper Swat. An official of the Meteorological Department, Peshawar, said two feet of snow was recorded in Upper Dir bordering Afghanistan. He said most routes of Upper Dir and Chitral were blocked, leaving passengers stranded on the Lowari Pass. The official said around eight inches of snow was recorded in upper parts of Swat and Shangla.
Galiyat
Furthermore, snowfall coupled with rain lashed Galiyat, paralysing several villages. The snow began falling around 10pm on Sunday night and continued till the filing of this report.
According to locals, over the past 20 hours, low-lying areas received 1.5 feet while high altitude areas received two feet of snow. Sardar Nazakat, a resident of Nathiagali, said all link roads have been closed while traffic on main Abbottabad-Muree Road was suspended from Nathiagali to Muree at several points.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 11th, 2014.
At least a dozen houses were partially damaged after a storm hit Karak on Monday.
According to an official of the Karak district administration, a storm was followed by rain that has been sporadic since the last two days.
The houses of Usma Ghani in Lawaghar and Abdul Aziz in Momani collapsed after a heavy downpour, said the official.
Houses were also damaged in Nakht Nusrati, Lawaghar and Faqirabad. Large trees were uprooted, blocking multiple roads leading to different areas in the district. Crops have also been destroyed by snow and rain, added the official.
Meanwhile, heavy snowfall was also recorded in areas of Upper Dir, Chitral and Upper Swat. An official of the Meteorological Department, Peshawar, said two feet of snow was recorded in Upper Dir bordering Afghanistan. He said most routes of Upper Dir and Chitral were blocked, leaving passengers stranded on the Lowari Pass. The official said around eight inches of snow was recorded in upper parts of Swat and Shangla.
Galiyat
Furthermore, snowfall coupled with rain lashed Galiyat, paralysing several villages. The snow began falling around 10pm on Sunday night and continued till the filing of this report.
According to locals, over the past 20 hours, low-lying areas received 1.5 feet while high altitude areas received two feet of snow. Sardar Nazakat, a resident of Nathiagali, said all link roads have been closed while traffic on main Abbottabad-Muree Road was suspended from Nathiagali to Muree at several points.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 11th, 2014.