QUETTA: Siberian winds blowing across Quetta and northern and central Balochistan after heavy snowfall and rain on Wednesday brought down the temperature on Thursday, bringing happiness to people in parts of the province facing a drought-like situation.

In Quetta the maximum temperature recorded was 2 degrees centigrade and the minimum temperature -2 degrees while in Kalat the mercury dropped to -6 degrees.

The Met Office forecast more snowfall and rain for Quetta and parts of northern and central Balochistan.

In Quetta valley and other parts of northern and central Balochistan it usually begins to rain in the last week of November or the first week of December. But this year November and December remained dry.

Thousands of people waiting anxiously for snowfall braved the freezing winds and reached the Hanna-Urak valley to enjoy the weather.

Vehicles were seen moving in long queues towards the valley and other scenic spots around Quetta to enjoy the snowfall.

According to the Met Office, Quetta valley received six to 10 inches of snow while the Hanna-Urak valley got more than one foot of snowfall.

Reports of heavy snowfall were also received from places such as Ziarat, Kan Mehtarzai, Muslim Bagh, Harnai, Sanjavi, Toba Achakzai, Toba Kakari, Barshor, Mastung, Kalat, Harboi and Kosak Top.

Vehicular traffic between Quetta and the border town of Chaman remained blocked at the Khojak Pass before being restored later in the day after snow was removed from the road.

The road has been under construction for the last eight years.

People faced some difficulties in Ziarat, Toba Kakari, Toba Achakzai and Kan Mehtarzai areas as snow blocked all roads, sources said.

Reports reaching here from coastal areas said that heavy rain had badly affected routine life, cutting off several areas from Turbat, the divisional headquarters, among other places.

Snowfall and rain however brought relief to farmers as their wheat crop mostly depends on rain and snowfall.

In Quetta and some other areas low gas pressure and erratic electricity supply added to the people’s worries regarding their heating needs.

People living in the outskirts of Quetta have not been receiving gas while power supply has been badly affected by snowfall and rain.

Only nine of the 32 districts of the province are getting gas from the main system.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2015

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