Severe winter weather swept across northern Pakistan as snow and rain disrupted daily life, prompting rescue teams to evacuate stranded residents and tourists from multiple areas. Heavy snowfall covered vast stretches of mountainous terrain, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), leading to road closures and isolating several villages.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday cautioned that wet and snowy conditions were expected to persist, advising tourists to refrain from non-essential travel as authorities worked to avert weather-related emergencies.
According to Rescue 1122, the districts of Khyber, South Waziristan and Swat in KP bore the brunt of Thursday’s snowfall. Emergency teams were engaged in clearing blocked roads and distributing food supplies, warm clothing and bedding to affected communities.
Similar conditions were reported in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree and the Galiyat, where heavy snow left numerous vehicles stranded. Residents in some areas also reported electricity outages, local media said.
In its midday advisory, the PMD said the weather system responsible for the rain and snowfall remained active over northern regions and was likely to bring further precipitation in the coming hours. Tourists were urged to stay alert and avoid unnecessary movement during adverse weather.
Earlier forecasts indicated intermittent rain and snowfall in northern parts of the country from January 21 to 24, with the possibility of heavy snow in upper and hilly areas.
