ISLAMABAD: Heavy snowfall across Pakistan’s upper regions has paralyzed daily life and stranded hundreds of tourists, officials said. Authorities confirmed at least two deaths in weather-related incidents.
Snow blocked key roads and cut off remote communities. Traffic slowed due to extreme cold and icy conditions. Several vehicles skidded on slippery highways.
In northern Balochistan, a snowstorm continued for a second day. Dozens of vehicles remained stranded on the Quetta–Ziarat highway. More than 100 tourists were stuck in and around Chaman. Traffic on the N-50 highway was disrupted at multiple points, suspending interprovincial travel.
Nine separate accidents occurred on the N-50 due to snow and ice. Twenty-seven people suffered injuries. On Kojak Top, temperatures dropped to minus 12 degrees Celsius after strong Siberian winds. Cold conditions intensified on the Chaman–Quetta–Karachi N-25 highway.
Near Shelabagh, several vehicles collided on icy roads. The crash killed two people and injured seven others. Quetta also recorded its first snowfall of the winter, worsening cold conditions and creating difficulties in urban areas.
Heavy snowfall also hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Affected districts included Mansehra, Upper Galiyat, Shangla, Lower Dir, Mohmand, Kalam, Orakzai, Chitral, and Khyber. In the Tirah Valley of Khyber district, nearly 100 vehicles became stranded. Authorities moved 35 people to safer locations.
Snowfall disrupted electricity supply in Shangla. In Chitral, authorities closed several link roads. Naran received six inches of snow, while Shogran recorded one and a half inches. Tourists continued to arrive to witness the snowfall.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, upper areas of Astore district received between two and three feet of snow. Land routes were cut off, forcing residents to remain indoors. Snow also fell in Hunza and Nagar, while residents in Chipursan reported worsening conditions.
Snowfall increased cold intensity in Chilas, Babusar Top, Nanga Parbat, Batogah, Darel, and Tangir.
In Azad Kashmir, rain continued in lower areas, while intermittent snowfall hit higher elevations. Authorities partially closed the Murree Expressway due to snow accumulation.
Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 teams continued operations in the Tirah Valley. Rescuers worked to pull stranded people and vehicles out of deep snow.
A Rescue 1122 spokesperson said teams rescued 55 people traveling in nearly 20 vehicles near the Sandana area. Rescue units from Khyber, Peshawar, Swabi, and Nowshera took part in the operation.
Also Read: Pak Army, rescue 1122 mobilise to aid snow-hit Tirah valley
In a separate incident, a room collapsed due to rain in the Bata Tal area of Bara. Five people were trapped under the debris. Rescue teams pulled all victims out and provided medical treatment.
