The country remained in the grip of a cold wave on Monday, with the National Weather Forecasting Centre (NWFC) saying that a new western disturbance is likely to persist in upper Pakistan until Tuesday.
The NWFC, in its daily forecast, warned of traffic disruption due to heavy snowfall, causing road closures and slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galiyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Noshki, Harnai and Zhob.
It added that there was a risk of landslides and avalanches in the mountainous areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
“Tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travelling during the forecast period,” it said.
The NWFC forecast rain, wind, thunderstorms and snowfall in Balochistan, KP, Kashmir and GB on Monday.
According to the forecast, heavy rain and moderate-to-heavy snowfall is also likely at isolated places in south and northeast Balochistan, Kashmir and upper KP, while rain, wind, thunderstorms and snowfall is also expected at isolated places in southern Punjab and upper Sindh.
It added that rain, wind and thunderstorms were likely in Islamabad as well as upper and central Punjab in the evening and night hours of Monday.
On Tuesday, according to the NWFC, rain and snowfall with thunderstorms and strong winds are expected in upper KP, Kashmir, GB and upper Punjab. Heavy rain and moderate-to-heavy snowfall is also likely in isolated parts of Kashmir and upper KP, it said.
“Cold and dry weather is likely in other parts of the country,” the forecast added.
The past 24 hours saw cold and dry weather in most parts of the country, with rain and snowfall in northeastern and western Balochistan and upper KP.
The lowest minimum temperature recorded today (as of 10:30am) was -12 degrees Celsius in Leh, followed by -08°C in Kalam and Ziarat.
Relief operations in Orakzai, Kurram
The Pakistan Army carried out relief operations in KP’s Orakzai and Kurram districts amidst heavy rains and snowfall, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Monday.
During heavy snowfall in Orakzai, the army “cleared blocked roads on an emergency basis”, it said.
Meanwhile, in Kurram, which was also severely affected by the snowfall, the Pakistan Army swiftly launched a rescue operation and restored an eight-kilometre road using heavy machinery, the outlet reported.
It said that Manato Sadda road had been completely blocked by heavy snowfall, stranding numerous vehicles.
“Pakistan Army conducted a prompt operation, safely evacuating passengers and vehicles to secure locations,” Radio Pakistan said.
PDMA put on high alert in Balochistan
Meanwhile, Balochistan’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) was put on high alert as rain and snowfall continue to affect parts of the province, state-run APP reported.
It quoted Director of Relief Operations at PDMA Mir Attaullah Mengal as saying that the disaster management authority’s teams had been “fully mobilised since the onset of snowfall and rainfall”. He further said that operations to clear the snow were being carried out even at nights to “prevent road blockages and minimise inconvenience for the public”.
“Timely and effective measures have enabled PDMA to keep all major highways operational despite severe weather conditions. Uninterrupted traffic flow and public safety remain [our] top priorities,” the official said.
He urged the people, particularly travellers and tourists, to avoid unnecessary travel, adopt precautionary measures and cooperate with PDMA and district administration teams to prevent accidents.
“The PDMA has been put on high alert across the province in view of the possibility of further snowfall and adverse weather conditions. The chief minister has directed relevant authorities to submit hourly situation reports while closely monitoring evolving conditions,” Mengal added.
He said that the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre would remain operational 24 hours in the given situation, “performing coordination, monitoring, tracking, and reporting duties, while ensuring the timely provision and effective management of relief resources”.
The director said that during the previous spell of snowfall, the PDMA had “successfully prevented” the closure of major highways and rescued several stranded individuals and vehicles. He added that the PDMA was working in coordination with district administrations and taking all possible measures to deal with any untoward situation.
The APP report further stated that PDMA personnel and machinery had been kept on standby under the supervision of the authority’s director general on the directives of Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and the provincial chief secretary, Shakeel Qadir Khan.
Cold weather predicted for Karachi: PMD
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), in its three-day weather forecast for the Karachi division, predicted partly cloudy weather with chances of light rain in Sukkur, Larkana, Kambar Shahdadkot, Jacobabad and Dadu districts today under the influence of the westerly wave.
It added that partly cloudy and cold/very cold weather were likely to prevail over most of Sindh.
The PMD predicted a high of 21-23°C and a low of 11.5°C today, with 46 per cent humidity during the daytime dropping to 15-25pc in the evening and a northeast/easterly wind.
Cold and dry weather is expected for both Tuesday and Wednesday, with relatively similar temperatures: highs of 21-23°C and 22-24°C and lows of 9-11°C and 10-12°C, respectively.
While the humidity on Tuesday is forecast to remain around 45-55pc, dipping to 20-30pc in the evening, Wednesday will see a higher humidity level of 60-70pc in the daytime and 40-50pc in the evening.
A northeasterly wind on Tuesday will turn northwest/westerly, while a northeast/easterly wind on Wednesday is predicted to turn west/southwesterly.
