Rain, snow to continue in country for next 24 hours

Islamabad: Rain and snowfall in different parts of the country, including Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan, along with Murree, have been going on for the last two days, due to which many connecting roads were closed at different places. Roofs of houses and walls collapsed and trees were uprooted, while many incidents of landslides also occurred.

Snowfall started in Murree after last two days of rain. The Meteorological department has indicated the possibility of more snow and rain in Murree during the next 24 hours.

After rain and snowfall in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir, the severity of cold has increased, while in various districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, including Diamur, Ghazar, Astor and Skardu, the Karakoram highway has been closed at many places, including the upper areas, after rain and snowfall.

On the other hand, in the Neelum valley of Azad Kashmir, several buildings including a two-storey residential house collapsed due to landslides. Many connecting roads have been closed due to snowfall and landslides in many cities including Muzaffarabad and Bagh.

Due to heavy snowfall in Swat, several connecting roads of various areas including Kalam and Malam Jabba have been completely closed, due to which the stranded tourists are facing problems.

As the roads have been closed due to landslides after rain and snowfall, even after two days of the incident, the body of Gilgit youth Asrar, who died in a car accident, has not been brought to his native area, and his family members are stuck in Upper Kohistan along with the deceased.

On the other hand, weather in Chitral, Dir, Abbottabad, Swabi, Para Chinar, Hangu, Orakzai and North Waziristan has become very cold due to rain and snowfall. While many districts of Balochistan are under the influence of snowy weather due to which the intensity of cold has also increased in Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Pashin, Kalat and Mastung.

In other cities of Punjab including Gujranwala, Jhelum and Dera Ghazi Khan, the severity of cold has increased after rain and hailstorm.

According to the Meteorological Department, there is a possibility of rain and hail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan during the next 12 to 24 hours, while rain and hail may also occur in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Upper and Central Punjab.

The Meteorological Department also predicted a new series of rains under the influence of western winds to occur from March 5 to March 7 and it is likely to rain in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir during the same time.

It is also stated by the Met Department that during this time it may rain in the northwestern areas of Sindh, while the areas of Turbat, Gwadar, Kech, Chagai, Mastung, Pashin and Qila Abdullah of Balochistan may also be affected by rain.