PESHAWAR: Widespread rain and snowfall continued in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal regions on Sunday amid reports that Kalam was cut off from other areas of Swat district after heavy downpour badly damaged a temporary road.Heavy rain and snowfall have also paralysed life in upper parts of Hazara division.The Met office forecast more rain and snow in the province and tribal areas during the next 24 hours. According to reports, the picturesque Kalam valley has received over three feet snow during the last 72 hours.Heavy rain washed away the only road leading to Kalam, disconnecting the area from Mingora, the district headquarters. Flash floods had washed away road to Kalam in July last. Malam Jaba, the tourist and skiing resort in Swat, has also received more than two feet snow.The said that 113 millimetres rain was recorded in Upper Dir district during the last 72 hours. Plains in Malam Jaba received 59mm, Pattan (Kohistan) 92mm, Timergara 53mm, Chitral 48mm, Saidu Sharif 40mm, Balakot 27mm and Parachinar 9mm rain, they said. Light rain also continued in Peshawar where total 9mm downpour was recorded.The rain and snowfall, continuing for the last three days, brought life to a standstill in upper parts of Hazara.The rain started in Mansehra, Kohistan, Battagram and Torgar on Friday evening and continued intermittently throughout Sunday.The roads and markets in Mansehra and other areas of Hazara were wearing a deserted look as people preferred to remain indoors due to severe cold and continuous rain. The telecommunication system was badly affected by the rain in the areas as most of the landlines went out of order.The Karakoram Highway, which was closed on Saturday between Barseen and Chalas because of heavy landslide, was reopened to all kinds of traffic on early Sunday morning.However, Allai-Banna Road and other link roads, which were closed after landslide on Friday, could not be reopened to traffic owing to intermitted rain in the region.
The snowfall also continued in Kaghan and Allai valleys and mountainous areas in the region.Orakzai Agency also received first winter snowfall of the year and heavy downpour on Sunday.According to reports Orakzai Agency received five to six inches snow, which made the weather chilly in the tribal area and the adjoining settled areas of Kohat, Hangu and Thall.Military officials, engaged in an operation in the area, said that the snowfall covered all the hills and jungles right from Samana to Shiekhan and Mishti in lower Orakzai Agency making the guns silent for the time being.The tribesmen have already assembled jungle wood to save themselves and their cattle heads from the icy weather – Dawn
