PESHAWAR: Low visibility on Friday morning led to the diversion of two international flights from Peshawar to Islamabad.

Besides these flights from Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, another from Doha was also cancelled.

However, it departed in the evening.

According to the local Civil Aviation Authority officials, visibility at the Bacha Khan International Airport (BKIA) Peshawar was as low as 50 metres leading to the issuance of a warning until 8am.

They told Dawn that two flights, including ER-858 of Serene Air and PK-218 of the national flag carrier PIA, were diverted to Islamabad, while QR-600 from Doha to Peshawar was first delayed and later cancelled.

“The flight operations at BKIA were suspended, while the passengers on flights, which were diverted to Islamabad, were airlifted to Peshawar. The Qatar Airways flight QR-600 arrived here late and QR-601 departed for Doha later,” a senior CAA official said.

Officials fear motorway closure due to fog

He also said flight operations were suspended to prevent mishap.

“It can cause accidents and this is why the flights were diverted to Islamabad,” he informed.

According to the Motorways Police, operations at M-1 are expected to be closed due to fog.

“There are high chances of fog in areas where water flows along the motorway. There is a possibility of the closure of the motorway for traffic after 9pm from Peshawar Toll Plaza since visibility falls down near Nisata area of district Charsadda and Rashakai area of Mardan besides at few other places in KP,” a motorway official said.

He said the Swat Expressway was expected to be closed near Dhobian area due to fog.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority forecast cloudy weather with isolated light rain and snowfall in Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Torghar, Mansehra and Abbottabad districts on Saturday morning and noon.

“Dense fog is likely to occur over Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi and Dera Ismail Khan districts as well as on the Peshawar-Swabi Motorway during night hours,” it said.

The PDMA said the users of motorways and national highways should take precautionary measures against mishaps.

It said 18mm rainfall was recorded in Balakot, 15mm in Kakul, 14mm in Malam Jabba, 13mm in Cherat cantonment, 10mm in Risalpur and Pattan, 9mm in Tirah, 8mm in Peshawar, Kalam and Parachinar, 7mm in Dir, 6mm in Landi Kotal, Timergara, Buner and Takhtbhai, 5mm in Kohat and Saidu Sharif, 3mm in Mirkhani and 2mm in Bannu, Bajaur and Mohmand.

Besides rainfall, heavy snow fell in Galiyat as well. The snow blocked roads to traffic.

However, spokesman forthe Galiyat Development Authority Ahsam Hamid, the roads were cleared to transportation in the evening.

“We deployed the GDA’s machinery and manpower to clear roads, and completed operations,” he said.

The spokesman said the administration was actively following the situation.

Besides Galiyat, snowfall was also recorded in Malam Jabba, Kalam and Kohistan. The lowest temperature in the province (-05°C) was recorded in the Kalam area of Swat district.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2022