QUETTA: Northern and upper regions of Balochistan remain in the grip of a severe cold snap, with life paralyzed across several districts despite a halt in fresh snowfall. Biting Siberian winds continue to sweep through the province, causing temperatures to plummet to as low as minus 12 degrees Celsius in the upper and Pak-Afghan border areas.
The intense freeze has triggered a critical water crisis in major urban centers. In Quetta, Kalat, Chaman, and Ziarat, water has frozen inside household pipelines, cutting off supply and leaving citizens facing an acute shortage of drinking water. The cold is so severe that water has also solidified on ponds and road surfaces, creating hazardous conditions.
Road connectivity has been severely disrupted. Key highways, including the Quetta-Ziarat road and the N-50 Zhob Highway, are blocked at multiple locations due to heavy snow accumulation. Authorities have banned tourists from visiting Ziarat for the next 24 hours as a safety precaution.
Life has come to a standstill in Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Ziarat, Pishin, and Toba Achakzai, with residents struggling against the Arctic-like conditions. In response, the administration has launched emergency operations to restore normalcy. The National Highway Authority (NHA) and local officials are deploying modern machinery and conducting salt-spraying operations on roads to melt ice and prevent slippage, aiming to clear vital arteries and restore water supply. The efforts continue as the province endures one of its harshest winter spells.
