Snowfall & hailstorm disrupt routine life across country, fight operation suspended

At least 55 boats washed away in Kabul river, 9 shops collapsed due to heavy rain in Charsadda

PESHAWAR/ MULTAN/ISLAMABAD: At least six persons were killed in separate incidents of roofs collapse due to heavy rains which lashed most parts of the country on Wednesday. The rain and snow caused landslides and disrupted road and other communication links in various areas.

According to rescue sources, three women died and two girls critically injured when roof of a house caved in due to heavy rain in Badhber. The wounded were transported to a hospital.

In another incident two real brothers trapped and died when roof of a house came down due to heavy rain in Aleemzai area of Mohmand Agency. The local people retrieved the bodies from the rubble.

In yet another rain related incident occurred in Chungi No 8 Multan where two persons including a woman trapped under debris when roof of a house caved in. The rescuers recovered them and shifted to Nishtar hospital where the woman succumbed to her injuries.

Water in BudniCanal rose to alarming level due to heavy rain, creating a flood-like situation in the adjoining areas.

Nearby areas were also inundated following overnight torrential rains in the city.

Charsadda Road was closed for traffic after rainwater amassed on the road, causing trouble to the commuters and pedestrians.

The district administration immediately commenced work to clean the canal.

At least 55 boats were washed away when rain water rose in Kabal river and 9 shops collapsed due to heavy rain in Charsadda

Assistant Commissioner Mumtaz Kundi stated that there is no imminent flood threat, however, authorities are fully prepared to deal with any kind of situation.

Locals have complained that there are no embankments around the canal and floods have caused widespread destruction in nearby areas in the past.

Rain and snowfall continued to affect life in upper parts of the country for the third day on Wednesday, bringing temperature further down.

Heavy rains disrupt flight operation at BenazirBhuttoInternationalAirport where the visibility level registered lower due to bad weather.

According to Airport Manager (APM) Ayaz Jadoon, the flight operation has been stopped due to continuous rain and hail.

Earlier, two flights that were scheduled to take passengers to Uramchi have faced delay due to harsh weather.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Agency, Dir and parts of KPK and Balochistan received heavy snowfall.

It said Rawalpindi and Islamabad experienced hailstorm, intensifying cold in the twin cities and affecting flight schedule.

PMD says a western disturbance is affecting upper parts of the country and likely to persist during next 18 to 24 hours, adding that intermittent rain is continue in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Swat, Dir, and parts of Azad Kashmir.

Officials said heavy rainfall in tribal agencies has triggered flash floods in streams and rainwater nullahs around Peshawar, raising alarm for the city population.

The Met Office predicts that more rain and thunderstorm (with snowfall in north western hilly areas) is expected at scattered places in Islamabad, upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha divisions), upper KP (Malakand, Hazara, Mardan divisions), upper FATA (Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai Agencies), Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Kohat, Bannu and Peshawar divisions.

Dry weather is expected in other parts of the country.

Rainfall during last 24 hrs:

Garhi Dupatta 98, Malamjaba 82, Parachinar 72, Chitral 62, Kalam 57, Rawalakot 55, Pattan 51, Drosh, Dir, Muzaffarabad, Risalpur 44, Balakot 36, Peshawar (A/P) 36, Saidu Sharif 31, Astore 31, Lower Dir 30, Peshawar City 28, Murree, Bannu, Mirkhani 25, Kakul 17, Islamabad (Z.P 17, Siadpur 13, Golra 10), Kotli 15, Rawalpindi (Chaklala 15, Shamsabad 14, Bokra 09), Cherat 14, Skardu, Chilas 12, Kohat 09, Gujranwala 08, Bunji, Mangla 07, Lahore (PBO), Sialkot (A/P), Sialkot Cantt 06, Gilgit, Kasur, Lahore (A/P) 05, Chakwal 04, Jhelum, Sargodha, Zhob, M.B.Din 03, Gujrat, Bahawalnagar, Joharabad 02, Okara, T.T. Singh, Gupis, Hunza, Faisalabad 01.

INP