MANSEHRA: The upper parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Hazara and Malakand divisions, on Sunday received the second spell of snowfall in mountainous areas and rain in plain areas turning the weather chilly.

Met office in Peshawar has predicted more rains and snowfall in upper parts of Hazara and Malakand and rains in plain areas of Peshawar valley and parts of southern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In Hazara division, the snowfall started in Kaghan valley, Shogran tourist resort, Siren valley, Konsh valley and Musa-da-Musalla in Mansehra, and Spat and Kandia valleys in Kohistan districts early in the morning and continued intermittently for the entire day.

Landslides block roads leading to Mansehra and Kohistan valleys

Mansehra, Kohistan, Torghar and Kolai-Palas districts also received rains, which continued intermittently on Sunday. Following the heavy snowfall and rain, the weather turned chilly in Hazara division.

Also, landslides have blocked the roads leading to Siren and Konsh valleys in Mansehra, and Spat and Kandia valleys in Kohistan.

“Life has been paralysed in our district since the start of snowfall as almost all roads leading to Spat and other valleys and meadows and even in urban parts of the district are blocked by landslides,” said Ayub Kuloch, a resident of Kolai-Palas.

The MNJ road, which is already blocked in upper parts of Kaghan valley since the earlier snowfall, was also blocked in lower parts of the valley.

“Though the road leading to Shogran from Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad (MNJ) road remained blocked following the snowfall, we moved there on foot and enjoyed the snowfall,” said Mohammad Ali Khan, a tourist.

He said that because of the slippery condition of the bumpy road the four-wheelers were reluctant to take tourists to the scenic Shogran resort.

In Swat, weather turned chilly after snowfall started in hilly areas of Malakand division on Sunday morning.

The snow started in Kalam, Utror, Matiltan, Ushu, Gabral, Mankiyal, Bahrain, Malam Jabba and Gabin Jabba in Swat, Shangla Top, Damorai and other areas of Shangla district and hilly areas of Elum of Buner district in the morning and continued till evening.

Besides, rain started in the plain areas of all the districts of Malakand division, including Batkhela, Daggar, Sawarai, Peer Baba, Mingora, Barikot, Kabal, Khwazakhela and other areas.

According to the KP Met Department about six-inch snowfall was recorded in Malam Jabba, Gabin Jabba, Mankiyal, Bahrain, Shangla Top and Kalam, and 12-inch snowfall in Mahodand, Gabral, Utror, Matiltan, Usho and Kumrat areas.

A large number of tourists from across the country flocked to Kalam, Gabin Jabba and Malam Jabba to enjoy the snowfall.

In Lower Dir, Upper Dir and Chitral, snowfall in mountainous areas and rain in the plains on Sunday broke the drought-like situation.

Rain and snowfall started in upper parts of Upper Dir and Chitral on Saturday night, the residents told Dawn, adding that the rainfall broke the prolonged dry spell prevailing for about five months.

The intermittent rain intensified the cold wave and locals remained confined to their homes especially in Maidan tehsil of Lower Dir, Kumrat in Upper Dir and Upper Chitral.

The Lowari top and Kumrat, according to residents, received about eight-inch snowfall.

Battagram and its adjoining areas received fresh spell of rain and snowfall. The rain coupled with cold winds lashed Battagram, Ajmera, Chappargram, Peshora, Shamlai, Batamori and Kuzabanda. Snowfall was recorded in Allai tehsil, Rashang, Gantar, Gangwal, Rao Kotkay, Pashto, Sokai Sar, Khapero Soka and Chail Sar.

In Bajaur, rain broke the two months long dry spell on Sunday.

The rain started in the morning and continued till filing of this report at about 7:45pm.

Some hilly areas, located in Salarzi, Mamond, Nawagai and Chamarkand tehsils, also received snowfall.

The residents and especially the farmers welcomed the rain and hoped that it would have a positive impact on their crops.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2021