MANSEHRA: The upper parts of the Hazara and Malakand divisions and other hilly areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday received heavy snowfall, and while rain lashed the plains, turning weather chilly.

It snowed throughout on Tuesday in Torghar, Kaghan, Siren and Konsh valleys and other high altitude parts of Hazara. The main Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road and link roads in the snowbound valleys were blocked because of snowfall and landslides.

The district administrations asked tourists to avoid travelling to snowbound valleys as continued snowfall and landslides could trigger fatal accidents.

The police also restricted entry of tourists to Kaghan valley fearing landslides.

The plains in Hazara division also received rains the entire day.

In Shangla, most parts of the district, including Alpuri, the district headquarters, received heavy snowfall, paralysing the routine life as major and link roads got blocked and electricity supply disrupted.

Up to eight inches of snow fell at Shangla top, Yakhtangay, Ajmeer, Kandaw and Bahadar Sar.

Alpuri and its outskirts received up to four inches of snow.

In Battagram, a fresh spell of snowfall and rain dropped temperatures in the district.

Rain lashed Battagram, Ajmera, Chappargram, Peshora, Shamlai, Batamori and Kuzabanda, while Allai, Sokai Sar, Khapero Soka and Chail Sar received snowfall.

Snowfall was also reported from remote Galey Maidan and Srei Oba areas.

In Lower Dir, the hilltops in Lower and Upper Dir received snowfall on the second consecutive day on Tuesday, while rain lashed the plain areas, turning weather chilly.

People in the snowbound areas were confined to their homes, and in some areas power supply was also disrupted.

In Bajaur, the mountains received snowfall, drawing a large number of visitors to them on Tuesday.

A majority of people visited the Ghaki mountains located along the Pak-Afghan border in Mamond tehsil.

In Hangu, the hilly Samana resort and the adjoining Orakzai tribal district received heavy snowfall on Monday night, turning weather harsh.

The Met office officials told Dawn that temperature had dipped to zero degrees Celsius in Kohat. It said the Kohat district received 8mm rain on Monday night and on Tuesday morning.

The mountains between Kohat and Orakzai in Sher Kot area were also covered with snow.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2022