NDMA issues avalanches alert: Heavy snowfall, landsliding kill 10 in KP

PESHAWAR: Northern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have been gripped by intense cold and heavy snowfall, leaving at least 10 people dead in incidents involving landslides, avalanches and roof collapses over the past two days.

According to a preliminary report issued by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the deceased include seven children and one woman, while rain and snowfall have caused partial damage to at least five houses in different areas.

Tragedy with tourist couple: The report said that in Balakot, a tourist couple from Faisalabad fell unconscious after gas accumulated inside their room. The husband later died, while the woman’s condition was reported to be stable.

READ MORE: Seven kids among nine killed in rain, snow-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

In Balochistan’s Chaman district, the main road in the Toba Achakzai area remains closed due to snowfall, while in Mansehra all major highways blocked by snow have been reopened for traffic.

Kaghan Highway to open for traffic: Hundreds of tourists stranded in Shogran were sent home using jeeps, and authorities said the Kaghan Highway would also be opened for general traffic later today if weather conditions improve.

Roads linking 150 villages closed: In Battagram, the Karakoram Highway has been restored for all kinds of traffic, while in Abbottabad, Galiyat and Thandiani, link roads to around 150 villages remain closed. More than half a million people are still confined to their homes due to road blockages.

Life has come to a standstill in several areas of Diamer district, where the Pakistan Army and Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts have set up relief camps at various locations to assist affected residents.

Meanwhile, snowfall has stopped in Murree, after which the Murree Expressway was reopened for traffic. In Hattian Bala, heavy snowfall has blocked several link roads in the Jhelum Valley.

Pak Army, civil administration save 77 stranded people: In Azad Kashmir’s Abbaspur area, a joint operation by the Pakistan Army and civil administration was launched after snowfall, resulting in the safe evacuation of 77 stranded residents to secure locations.

Avalanches in upper regions: Given the risk of avalanches in mountainous and upper regions of the country, authorities have issued an alert, while the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has released a weather advisory for various areas until January 29.

More snowfall likely over next 24 to 48 hours: The NDMA warned that due to an ongoing western weather system, further snowfall is likely over the next 24 to 48 hours, with heavy snowfall expected in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and the mountainous and northern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Met Office prediction: As per the Met Office prediction, a westerly wind system will enter the country tonight. Rain and snowfall are expected in the country from today to Tuesday. Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and KP, Islamabad and Murree are expected to receive rain and snowfall.

Thunderstorms in Haripur, Peshawar, Kohat: Thunderstorms are expected in Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera and Kohat. Snowfall is expected to block roads and cause slippage in Naran, Kaghan, Kalam and Chitral. Authorities have also warned of landslides and avalanches in the upper districts.

Quetta, Ziarat to experience more showfall: Meanwhile, more snowfall has been predicted in Balochistan. More snowfall is expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Saifullah and Qila Abdullah. Heavy rain with strong winds has been predicted in other areas, including Gwadar, Khuzdar, Awaran, Chagai, Panjgur and Kech. Rain in Lahore, bitterly cold in Karachi: Intermittent rain forecast in various parts of Punjab, including Lahore. Karachi is experiencing bitter cold; the mercury has dropped to single digits. The temperature in the city is a record 8.5, and the cold wave in Karachi will continue until the end of January. Due to strong cold winds in Lahore, the temperature has dropped to 6.

Mercury drops to -8 in Kalat: In the last 24 hours, the mercury has dropped to minus 8 in Kalat.