NEELUM VALLEY (Kashmir English): Heavy snowfall continues in Azad Kashmir, breaking the record of the last five years in the Neelum Valley. More than six feet of snowfall was recorded in Upper Neelum, due to which everything was covered in snow.
As a result of the snowfall, highways have been closed and there is a risk of possible landslides. Tourists enjoyed the snowfall in Malka Kohsar Murree and Galiat; however, Mall Road, Jheka Gali, and Nathia Gali in Murree have been closed for tourists, and only people with reservations are allowed to enter.
Apart from this, snowfall also occurred in Quetta, Kalat, Mastung, Kan Mehtarzai, Muslim Bagh, and Chaman, while a white sheet was also laid in Neelum Valley, Bagh, Sudhan Gali, Ganga Choti, Neeza Gali, and Toli Pir.
Several connecting highways were blocked due to snowfall. The roads of Grace Valley and Shunter Valley have been closed, Nanga Parbat and Babusar Top have received more than ten feet of snow, due to which normal life has been badly affected, and people have been trapped in their homes.
An avalanche in Bagh killed a citizen and damaged several vehicles. Landslides in Lipa and Neelum Valley have destroyed 13 houses and partially affected 28.
The highway of Lipa Valley, closed by snowfall, was later restored; however, despite the passage of four days in Galiyat, electricity is suspended in most areas, and the complete restoration of communication roads could not be done.
The road closures have led to a severe shortage of food and medicines, and there are also fears of road closures in Naran, Kaghan, Kalam, and Chitral.
Clouds also fell in various parts of Punjab, including Lahore, and the intensity of the cold increased. In the upper areas, the temperature dropped below freezing due to snowfall. Leh recorded minus 12, Ziarat minus 8, Astore, Gopis, and Parachinar minus 7. Malam Jabba, Kalat and Rawalakot recorded minus 5, Karachi recorded the minimum temperature of 11 and Lahore recorded 7.
On the other hand, advance alerts of possible landslides have been issued in the mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and Balochistan. According to the NDMA, there is a serious risk of landslides in Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Shangla, Abbottabad and Mansehra, while there is also a risk of landslides in the mountainous areas of Murree, Galiat, Astore, Hunza, Bagh, Muzaffarabad, and surrounding areas. Landslides are also expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Qila Abdullah, Noshki, Kalat, Mastung, Panjgur, and Khuzdar.
The NDMA has repeatedly instructed the public to completely avoid unnecessary travel during snowfall and rain and take precautionary measures.
