ISLAMABAD: A fresh westerly wave brought widespread rain and isolated hailstorms to various parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), significantly dropping temperatures and disrupting road connectivity in mountainous areas.
In KP, rain was reported in Swat, Karak, Malakand, Abbottabad, and Mansehra, while a late-season dusting of snow in Galiyat and the Naran Valley turned the weather chilly. The precipitation, while welcomed by some for the respite from heat, caused logistical challenges in the north.
The Neelum Valley in AJK faced significant disruptions after a massive landslide at Kel Sheikh Bela blocked the main highway.
According to officials, over 20 vehicles carrying tourists were stranded due to the debris. Local authorities stated that several passengers have been provided temporary accommodation by the local community as clearance operations continue.
Similarly, in Balochistan, rain was recorded in the upper reaches of Ziarat, Toba Achakzai, and Toba Kakari.
The Karakoram Highway (KKH) also faced a blockade near Lachi Nala in Kohistan following a landslide triggered by the downpour, halting traffic between Gilgit-Baltistan and the rest of the country.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that the rain-bearing system will likely persist, with more precipitation and isolated hailstorms expected in the country’s upper regions over the next 24 hours.
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