PESHAWAR: The prolonged dry spell, which had led to a rise in respiratory tract infections, began to ease on Sunday as rain lashed the plains and snowfall occurred in high-altitude areas of parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The rain and snowfall, which started in various parts of the province in the early hours of the day, continued intermittently, further lowering temperatures.
Rain was reported in Peshawar, Mansehra, Torghar, Lower Kohistan, Upper Kohistan, Kolai-Palas and Swat districts.
In the provincial capital, rain began at around 7am and continued intermittently throughout the day. The city had been facing dry weather, which had led to chest-related problems. Namaz-e-Istisqa was offered at Jinnah Park to seek rain. Although the city received rainfall, large parts of Peshawar experienced a power breakdown that lasted for almost five hours.
MANSEHRA: High-altitude areas, including Kaghan valley and Babusar Top in Mansehra district, as well as Kandia and Spat valleys in Kohistan, received heavy snowfall.
Traffic between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan via the Mansehra–Naran–Jalkhad Road had already been suspended last month after heavy snowfall in Kaghan Valley.
“We restricted the movement of people beyond Kaghan town last month after snowfall froze the road artery connecting KP with Gilgit-Baltistan, making travel extremely risky,” Assistant Commissioner Balakot Hasrat Khan told reporters.
He said traffic between the two federating units would remain suspended until summer next year, most likely until the first week of May.
A large number of patients suffering from respiratory tract infections have been shifted to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital since the start of winter.
“If the current spell of rain persists, most ailments caused by the dry spell and severe cold may decrease significantly,” a doctor said.
MINGORA: Snowfall began in tourist destinations including Kalam, Malam Jabba and Mahodand in Upper Swat.
Intermittent snowfall has continued since Saturday night in upper and tourist areas of Swat, including Kalam, Malam Jabba and Mahodand.
Snowfall on the mountains lowered temperatures, while cold winds significantly intensified the chill.
Rain also continued in Kalam Valley and surrounding areas, accompanied by snowfall on higher peaks.
Meanwhile, intermittent rain was reported in the plain areas of Swat district, making the weather pleasant but cold.
A noticeable drop in temperature was recorded following the rain and snowfall.
