At least two children were killed and three people injured on Thursday as heavy rain and snowfall battered several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), disrupting normal life and transport across the province.
Read More: Cold wave grips KP after rain, snowfall
According to local sources, the fatalities occurred in Khyber district when three vehicles skidded off a slippery road while travelling from Tirah to Bara. The victims were reportedly displaced children from Tirah, while three others sustained injuries in the accident.
The Meteorological Department said widespread rain was recorded across much of the province, with snowfall in higher-altitude areas. Parachinar received 88 millimetres of rainfall over the past 24 hours, while Bannu recorded 14mm, Dera Ismail Khan 13mm, Peshawar 9mm, Chitral 8mm and Kalam 6mm. Rain and snowfall were forecast to continue in several areas through Thursday night and Friday.
The inclement weather also disrupted electricity supply. The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) said 53 feeders tripped due to heavy rain, affecting power supply in Peshawar, Khyber, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan districts. While 25 feeders were restored, work continued to repair the remaining ones.
Snowfall was reported in mountainous regions of South Waziristan, Mohmand, Bajaur, Swat, Dir and Hazara divisions. Several roads connecting villages and high-altitude areas remained blocked due to slippery conditions, while severe cold hampered daily activities in remote areas.
In Hazara, heavy snowfall in Kaghan, Konsh and Siren valleys plunged temperatures as low as minus 12 degrees Celsius, intensifying the cold spell. Authorities issued advisories urging residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel to mountainous areas and to use four-wheel-drive vehicles if travel was unavoidable.
Read More: Rain, snowfall alert issued across Punjab – Daily Times
Despite warnings, snowfall attracted tourists to popular destinations such as Malam Jabba, Kalam and Landi Kotal, where locals and visitors were seen enjoying the season’s first snow. However, officials cautioned that further snowfall could lead to road closures and urged people to remain vigilant.