People gather along a snow-covered area near the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman. Photo: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
A cold wave swept across large parts of the country after rain and snow lashed a large swath of land on Thursday.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), rain and heavy snowfall affected all provinces as well as the northern regions as the National Disaster Management Authority asked citizens to take precautions.
Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galiyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli and Rawalakot experienced heavy rain and snowfall.
In Punjab, widespread intermittent rain and thunderstorms hit major cities including Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Balochistan and KP also experienced widespread intermittent rain and snow in all major districts.
In Sindh, the weather turned cold and Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana received light rain.
According to the PMD, a strong westerly wave is affecting most parts of the country and is expected to continue in the upper regions till Thursday.
Widespread intermittent rain, wind and thundershowers – with snowfall over hills – are forecast for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad and upper and central Punjab. Moderate to heavy rain and snow may occur at higher elevations.
On Friday (today), similar conditions are expected in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, northeast Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while cold and dry weather is likely to prevail in other parts of the country.
During the last 24 hours, scattered rain and thundershowers have been recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh. Significant rainfall was reported in Parachinar (88 millimeters), Jacobabad and Sukkur (10 millimeters each), Khuzdar (12 millimeters) and Bhakkar (9 millimeters). Snowfall of up to two inches was recorded in Kalam, Quetta and Parachinar.
The coldest temperatures recorded included minus 11 degrees Celsius in Leh, minus 5 degrees in Gupis, Skardu, Bagrote and Parachinar and minus 4 degrees in Kalam.
The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a weather alert.
It advised the public to avoid non-essential travel to areas of high altitude and snowfall and to ensure the use of snow chains where travel is unavoidable.
Citizens are encouraged to provide adequate heating, warm clothing and shelter, with particular attention to protecting vulnerable population groups, it added.
Local communities are advised to remain vigilant and closely follow advice issued by relevant local authorities. The NDMA directed all provincial and district authorities to remain on high alert and ensure preparedness for snow clearing operations, emergency response and timely restoration of essential services including electricity and communication.
