Heavy rains, snow affect life operations

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Heavy rains entered several parts of KP and FATA on Saturday and Sunday, bringing with them death and destruction as at least three people, including two children, were killed with at least 10 others being injured.

The Meteorological Department warned the region of upcoming thunderstorms and snow over the next 24 hours.

Overnight rain and snowfall in Swat district continued throughout the day. So far, Kalam, Utrore, Bahrain, Madyan, Miandam, Malam Jabba, Spin Sar ( Matta) and Marghuzar received snowfall, while the low lying parts of the district were lashed by heavy downpour.

Roads were blocked, while life in parts of Upper Swat came to a grinding halt.

The meteorological office has predicted more rains with thunderstorms and snowfall in the next 24 hours. Officials said Peshawar received a mammoth 43mm of rainfall, while other parts of the province and tribal areas also witnessed significant downpour.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, heavy rains and snowfall over hills have hampered the communication system in the hilly areas.

Reports said Muzaffarabad Neelum valley road remained closed at Marble due to land-sliding.

The sources said Bagh- Lasdana, Bagh –Sudhan Ghalli and Reshian–Leepa Valley roads have been closed due to land-slides and heavy snowfall in these areas.

However Muzaffarabad –Kohalla and Muzaffarabad- Abbottabad roads were open for light vehicular traffic only.

Police sources told that about two feet snow was recorded at Kail in Neelum Valley while Lasdana and Sudhan Ghalli received 2 to 3 feet snow till this evening.

The hilltops surrounding Muzaffarabad city were also clad with light snow.

In the wake of forecast about more rains in the country, KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has expressed deep sense of grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives and properties caused by ongoing torrential rains in different parts of the province and put on alert all the district administrations, hospitals and the Provincial Disaster management Authority (PDMA) directing them to take all out efforts for mitigating the likelihood of any further loss.

He ordered emergency in all government hospitals in the province and warned that any negligence or inefficiency on part of the hospitals’ staff in medical care and rehabilitation of rain victims shall not be tolerated. He asked the district administrations to provide provisional shelters to those rain affected people who lost their shelters due to heavy rains. In this connection he also directed the PDMA, Peshawar to take all necessary measures for relief and rehabilitation of rain-hit people on emergency basis.