Snowfall blankets Neelum Valley, restricts people to homes

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Roads were blocked after snowfall blanketed the Neelum Valley on Thursday. Owing to snowfall, people were restricted to their homes while several tourists were trapped. Canals swelled due to continuous rain in Upper Dir. On the other hand, Dir-Chitral Road was closed due to landsliding. Moreover, thick clouds hovered over Leepa Valley, Bagh and other areas. Owing to rain and snowfall, mercury further dropped. According to the Met Office, a western disturbance is affecting upper parts of the country and may persist till Friday. Rain-thunderstorm (snowfall over the hills) with gusty wind is expected at scattered places in Malakand, Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar, Rawalpindi divisions, Islamabad, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while at isolated places in Kohat, Sargodha, Lahore and Gujranwala divisions. However, dry weather is expected elsewhere in the country. For Friday, rain-thunderstorm (snowfall over the hills) with gusty wind is expected at scattered places in Malakand, Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat, Rawalpindi divisions, Islamabad, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while at isolated places in Sargodha, Lahore and Gujranwala divisions.