Cold wave caused by moderate rain and snowfall gripped different parts of the country on Monday (today) as the mercury continued to drop.
The Met Department has forecast more rains and snow.
According to reports, Nathia Gali, Bara Gali, Changla Gali , Ayubia, Thandiani, and other areas of Galiyat received heavy snowfall on Sunday night. Galiat road was closed for all types of traffic at Khaira Gali while about 250 vehicles were stuck up near Barian. The stuck up tourists are suffering due to the end of fuel in the vehicles and nothing to eat. They spent the night in their vehicles in severe weather.
An official claimed the lowest temperature was recorded in Kalam, Swat Valley, where the mercury plunged to minus 10 degrees Celsius.
Abbottabad Assistant Commissioner Roman Barana said rescue operation is going on in Galiat as the line departments have been activated, machinery to clear roads is in operation since Sunday night and hoped that the tourists would be able to move out of the blocked roads.
In Azad Kashmir, snow fall continues intermittently in Muzaffarabad , Leeba, Pir Chansi ,Bagh, Kel, Neelam valley and mountainous areas and in some areas, the snow fall was more than three feet. .The snow fall is likely to continue for the next twenty-four hours.
In Lahore, more than 100 feeders tripped suspending power supply in many areas of the provincial capital.
In Balochistan, road between Chaman and Toba Achakzai has been closed due to snowfall and hundreds of vehicles have been stuck up. However, snowfall in Kalat stopped on Sunday night while Quetta-Karachi highway was also opened after its clearance.
According to the met office, more rain with snowfall over the hills is expected at isolated places in Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore divisions, Islamabad, upper FATA, Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan. Very cold and dry weather is expected in other parts of the country.
Snowfall will continue in the hilly areas of the country over the next 24 hours.
Skardu was the coldest city on Sunday with minus 12 degree centigrade with minus 10 recorded in Kalam and Gupis, minus seven degree in Astore and Kalat, Malamjabba, Astore, Parachinar -06°C, Bagrote, Zhob, Hunza -04°C and Chitral -03°C.
