Heavy rain and hailstorm last night lashed the upper districts of Dir and Swat, triggering a sharp drop in temperatures and causing widespread disruption to daily life.
In Dir, intense hailstorm and rain reportedly plunged the area into darkness as flash floods in streams and nullahs led to the suspension of traffic on the GT Road. Soil erosion damaged roads in upper parts of the district, forcing residents to remain confined indoors. Standing crops, fruit orchards and several vehicles were also damaged in the hailstorm.
The downpour caused major power outages, with electricity supply suspended across the district after the system was severely disrupted.
In Swat, heavy rainfall and hail also intensified the cold weather. In Mingora, overflowing streams flooded roads, exposing the poor performance of the Water and Sanitation Services Company (WSSC), which once again failed to clear clogged drainage channels in time. Rainwater flowing onto the roads created hardships for commuters.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has forecast more rain today and tomorrow across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with snowfall in upper areas.
Issuing a province-wide alert, the PDMA warned of intermittent rain and thunderstorms in multiple districts and possible snowfall-related road closures in high-altitude regions. The authority cautioned that Abbottabad, Dir, Swat, Chitral and Kohistan face a risk of landslides. Rain is also expected in Peshawar, Mardan, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and other districts.
The PDMA further warned that heavy rain may damage weak structures, power poles and signboards. All district administrations have been instructed to take precautionary measures and improve drainage systems.
The authority also advised tourists and travellers to avoid unnecessary travel and exercise caution during the wet spell.
