MANSEHRA,/ QUETTA,/MURREE/ ISLAMABAD: Three people died across the country in different incidents relating to severe cold wave following snowfall as NEOC warned of weather hazards across KP, Balochistan, GB, AJK.
In Mansehra, a first-year student died of suffocation after burning a coal brazier inside a room, while 16-year-old Ayaz Khan a resident of Puran Bela, Shangla died on the way due to the lack of timely medical assistance. In Quetta, one person was killed and two others injured after the roof of a house collapsed due to rain and snowfall.
The snowfall and road closures claimed another precious life in the Puran Tehsil of the Shangla district, sources said on Monday. Sixteen-year-old Ayaz Khan, son of Ajmal Khan and a resident of Puran Bela, died on the way due to the lack of timely medical assistance. According to sources, Ayaz Khan was suffering from extreme cold and oxygen deficiency. However, due to difficult terrain and blocked roads beyond Bela Amanwi, he could not be shifted to a hospital in time. During the long and arduous journey, his condition deteriorated, and he did not survive. Residents said that despite severe snowfall, effective measures were not taken to restore roads, nor were emergency rescue or medical facilities available.
Meanwhile, snowfall stopped in Shangla and other upper areas, but normal life remains paralyzed due to several feet of snow accumulated on highways and link roads, further aggravating public hardships. The entire Shangla valley remains engulfed in darkness due to a severe power outage. Electricity, which was cut off on Thursday night, could not be restored even on the fifth day, Monday. while in several areas local micro-hydropower systems also remain non-functional despite the passage of five days.
Similarly, the upper parts of the Hazara Division have remained in the grip of a severe cold wave after recent snowfall since January 23, as a first-year student Ibrahim Sultan had lit a coal burner inside a room in the Lohar Banda area. In the morning, when he and three others failed to wake up, family members broke open the door and found all four unconscious. They were shifted to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, where doctors pronounced Ibrahim Sultan dead, while the other three were hospitalised and stated to be in critical condition.
The recent spell of snowfall, which extended even to densely populated urban areas of Mansehra and other parts of the Hazara Division, has pushed temperatures to their lowest levels in a decade at minus 12 degree Celsius. Health experts warned that the extreme cold led to respiratory tract infections, particularly among children and the elderly, many times in recent days.
Also in Quetta, one person was killed and two others injured in Quetta after the roof of a house collapsed due to rain and snowfall. Rescue officials said the incident occurred in Killi Shahozai, Mohammad Town area. PDMA and rescue teams pulled the victims from the debris and shifted them to hospital.
A fresh spell of rain and snowfall has gripped several districts of Balochistan, intensifying the cold, disrupting electricity supply, and cutting off road links in multiple areas, while rescue and relief operations remain underway across the province. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), heavy snowfall was recorded on Monday in upland areas, with Ziarat receiving 9 inches, Qalat 6.8 inches, and Quetta 0.7 inches of snow. Rainfall data showed 41 millimetres in Qalat, 18 in Dalbandin, 17 in Ziarat, 16 each in Pasni and Jiwani, 12 in Noshki, 11 in Gwadar, and 10 millimetres in Quetta’s Sheikh Manda and Samungli areas. Other districts including Nokundi, Turbat and Chaman recorded 8 millimetres, Pishin 7, Sibi 6, Zhob 5 and Panjgur 2 millimetres of rain.
The National Highways Authority (NHA) said its staff and contractors remained deployed on all national highways in Balochistan. Snow-clearing and salt-sprinkling operations continued late into the night, helping keep major routes open and traffic moving. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) officials said rescue operations were carried out in Qila Abdullah, Chaman, Ziarat and Muslim Bagh. In Qila Abdullah district, several areas including the Dobandi tehsil were cut off due to heavy snowfall. The district administration launched relief operations and restored road connectivity after clearing snow.
Meanwhile, the PMD forecast that most districts of the province would experience cold and dry weather on Tuesday, with very cold conditions in northern areas. However, rain accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms, along with snowfall over mountainous regions, is likely at isolated locations in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Noshki, Harnai, Zhob, Qalat, Barkhan, Sibi and Loralai.
Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti said the province was facing a severe weather emergency and that the entire provincial machinery was engaged in rescue and relief operations. He warned that protests and road blockades during this critical period were equivalent to endangering human lives, as they disrupted rescue and relief activities. “Political differences can be addressed later, but people’s lives cannot wait,” he said, urging political and social groups to act responsibly and cooperate with the government. “At this moment, saving lives is the foremost priority, and everyone must stand with the public instead of creating obstacles.”
In a related development, a fresh spell of snowfall began in Murree on Monday evening, prompting the district administration to tighten safety arrangements for residents and tourists.
According to Deputy Commissioner Murree Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi, all relevant department officers and staff were in the field performing their duties diligently. Heavy machinery was being used to clear snow, while salt was being spread on various roads to prevent slipperiness. The traffic police, he said, were implementing a special traffic management plan to maintain smooth flow and prevent accidents. DC Shirazi advised tourists heading to Murree to fully cooperate with authorities to ensure safe travel. He added that in line with meteorological forecasts, the district administration remained fully alert, with the protection of local residents and tourists a top priority.
Light snowfall has begun at Sindh’s scenic tourist destination Gorakh Hill Station, triggering a severe cold wave. According to the Gorakh Hill administration, light snowfall occurred at Gorakh Hill Station after a gap of 13 years, causing the weather to turn extremely cold. Officials said that following the light snowfall, the temperature at Gorakh Hill Station and its surrounding areas dropped to minus 2 degrees Celsius. The light snowfall brought immense joy to tourists present at Gorakh Hill Station, who were seen celebrating enthusiastically. Due to the light snowfall, camping facilities in tents for tourists at Gorakh Hill Station have been temporarily suspended. Gorakh Hill tourist guide Jaman Jamali said the decision was taken in view of tourists’ safety.
In a related development, the National Disaster Management Authority’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) has issued a weather alert, warning of rain and snowfall across northern and western regions, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Rain is expected in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Malakand, Kurram, Waziristan, Mansehra, Mohmand, Buner, Haripur, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Karak, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, and Kohat.
They are likely to make roads slippery and disrupt traffic flow. Authorities have urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel during the wet spell and to adopt safety precautions. Relevant departments have been directed to remain on alert for rescue operations and road restoration in view of potential risks. The public has been advised to use the NDMA Disaster Alert app for verified updates, alerts, and safety guidance.
