By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: As a relentless cold wave tightened its hold across Pakistan on Monday, families in remote mountain villages huddled against the biting winds, while rescue teams battled snow-clogged roads to deliver aid and clear paths for stranded travelers.
The harsh weather, marked by heavy snowfall and plummeting temperatures, has turned daily life into a test of endurance for thousands, from the rugged peaks of Gilgit-Baltistan to the valleys of Balochistan, where officials warn of avalanches and landslides that could isolate communities for days.
The National Weather Forecasting Centre issued advisories, predicting the cold snap would linger through Tuesday under the influence of a western disturbance sweeping through the upper reaches of the country. Forecasters say roads slick with ice and snow in areas like 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. “Tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travelling during the forecast period,” the center said in its daily bulletin.
In the mountainous enclaves of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, the risk of landslides and avalanches loomed large, threatening homes and livelihoods already strained by the freeze. Monday’s outlook called for rain, wind, thunderstorms, and snowfall across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, with heavier downpours and moderate-to-heavy snow possible in isolated spots in south and northeast Balochistan, Kashmir, and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Southern Punjab and upper Sindh faced scattered rain, wind, thunderstorms, and light snow. By evening, the capital Islamabad and swaths of upper and central Punjab braced for similar unrest, with rain, wind, and thunderstorms expected to roll in. Looking ahead to Tuesday, the center anticipated more of the same in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and upper Punjab — rain and snow laced with thunderstorms and gusty winds, potentially heavy in pockets of Kashmir and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Elsewhere, the forecast promised cold and dry conditions, a brief respite for the rest of the nation. The previous 24 hours had offered a grim preview as cold and dry weather dominated most areas, interrupted by rain and snow in northeastern and western Balochistan and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Temperatures plunged to bone-chilling lows, with Leh recording the nadir at minus 12 degrees Celsius, followed by minus 8 in both Kalam and Ziarat as of mid-morning.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Orakzai and Kurram districts, where heavy rains and snow had paralyzed movement, Pakistan Army units mobilized for emergency operations. In Orakzai, soldiers cleared blocked roads on short notice, restoring vital links for residents cut off from supplies. Kurram fared worse, with an eight-kilometer stretch of the Manato Sadda road buried under snow, trapping vehicles and their occupants in a frozen limbo.”Pakistan Army conducted a prompt operation, safely evacuating passengers and vehicles to secure locations,” reported state-run Radio Pakistan
Farther south in Balochistan, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority said rain and snow battered the province. “Operations to clear the snow were being carried out even at nights to prevent road blockages and minimise inconvenience for the public,” Mir Attaullah Mengal, director of relief operations said. “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.”
He appealed to residents, especially those on the move, to heed warnings, curb travel, and work with local teams to avert mishaps. With more snow on the horizon, the authority ramped up vigilance. “The PDMA has been put on high alert across the province in view of the possibility of further snowfall and adverse weather conditions,” Mengal added. “The chief minister has directed relevant authorities to submit hourly situation reports while closely monitoring evolving conditions.”
Even in Karachi, the coastal hub typically insulated from the north’s fury, the chill crept in. The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasted partly cloudy skies with light rain possible in nearby districts like Sukkur, Larkana, Kambar Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, and Dadu, courtesy of the lingering westerly wave. For the city itself, expect highs of 21 to 23 degrees Celsius and a low of 11.5, with humidity at 46 percent by day, easing to 15-25 percent at night under northeast or easterly winds. Tuesday and Wednesday promised more of the cold grip: partly cloudy and cold to very cold across Sindh, with Karachi seeing highs of 21-23 and 22-24 degrees, lows dipping to 9-11 and 10-12. Humidity would hover at 45-55 percent Tuesday, rising to 60-70 percent Wednesday, as winds shifted from northeasterly to northwest or westerly, then west or southwesterly.
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