The True Post (Web News)Severe snowfall across various regions of Pakistan has significantly disrupted daily life, with several feet of snow blocking major roads in northern areas. However, timely interventions by the Pakistan Army and district administration have successfully relocated dozens of people to safe locations.
Although snowfall has started to subside in most northern regions, further snow is forecasted. Efforts to clear snow from roads have intensified, while attention is focused on restoring key routes and accelerating relief operations for travelers and tourists.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, rainfall and snowfall have paused, yet major highways in upper regions such as Leepa Valley, Upper Neelum, Sudhan Gali, Pir Chinasi, Mahmood Gali, and Lasdana remain closed. Daily life has been disrupted and the electricity system has suffered outages. Temperatures in Muzaffarabad dropped to minus seven degrees Celsius. In District Havelian, about 25 vehicles, including ambulances, got stranded due to heavy snow. The Pakistan Army rescued 32 passengers, including two bodies from an ambulance. In Neelum Valley, three houses collapsed under severe snowfall.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, snowfall in Kaghan Valley led authorities to halt tourist entry and accommodate visitors in Balakot. Roads in Deer Bala, Kumrat, Lowari Tunnel, and Bajaur also remain blocked due to snow. Malakand experienced snowfall after several years, with trees falling onto roads in some areas. Stranded individuals in Khyber are being rescued, and four tourists trapped at Shangla Top for 22 hours have been safely relocated.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, snowfall and landslides in Chilas and Upper Kohistan blocked the Karakoram Highway at multiple points, stranding hundreds of passengers and cargo vehicles. Severe snowfall in Astor disrupted normal life and cut off ground transportation across the country. Snow accumulation reached five to six feet in Rama Meadows, Deosai, Nanga Parbat, and Burzel Top, while a snow avalanche blocked roads at Musharraf Chowk. Road access remains restricted in Hunza and Nagar, and earthquake-affected families living in tents in Chipursan Valley are facing extreme cold.
In Galiyat, Nathiagali recorded over three feet of snow, while Thandiani saw four feet, severely affecting daily routines. Temperatures dropped to minus nine degrees Celsius in Nathiagali and minus four in Abbottabad. Extreme cold and snowfall have kept the main Abbottabad-Murree road closed, and several village roads in Galiyat remain blocked. Power outages for the past two days have affected heating arrangements and disrupted communication networks. Authorities continue efforts to restore roads and electricity, though heavy snow and freezing temperatures pose challenges to relief operations.
In Malka Kohsar, a 24-hour snowfall period has ended, with snow-clearing operations ongoing on all Murree access roads. Tourist entry is restricted, and district administration reports that saving lives remains the top priority. Hotels in Murree are fully booked, with no additional capacity for visitors.
Northern and upper regions of Balochistan remain under severe cold due to Siberian winds, despite snowfall. Frozen pipelines in Quetta, Qalat, Chaman, and Ziarat have caused shortages of drinking water. Sections of the N50 Zhob Highway are closed, with temporary restrictions on tourists heading to Ziarat. Salt spreading and snow removal efforts continue under the supervision of authorities and the National Highway Authority.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued alerts from January 23 to 29 for mountainous and upper areas due to the risk of avalanches. NDMA predicts further snowfall in the next 24 to 48 hours, particularly in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The agency has urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel and take precautionary measures. According to PDMA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, additional rainfall and snowfall are expected from Sunday night to Tuesday in upper districts, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, and Kohistan, while plains areas may experience thunderstorms. District administrations and rescue agencies have been instructed to remain on high alert to respond promptly to landslides and road blockages.
