Tag: snow

  • At least 60 Afghans killed by weeks of intense snow, rain

    At least 60 Afghans killed by weeks of intense snow, rain

    At least 60 people have been killed by heavy rain and snow in Afghanistan over the past three weeks, the government’s disaster ministry said Wednesday.

    Afghanistan has been parched by an unusually dry winter, but the end of the season is normally a time when deadly bad weather — particularly floods — batter communities.

    “Because of the snow and rains unfortunately sixty compatriots have been martyred and 23 people injured” since February 20, ministry spokesman Janan Sayeq said in a video statement.

    About 1,645 houses have been totally or partially ruined and nearly 178,000 livestock killed, he added.

    Since the collapse of the US-backed government and the return of the Taliban, foreign aid to Afghanistan has shrunk dramatically, undermining the already impoverished nation’s ability to respond to disasters.

    Western Herat province — still reeling from a succession of devastating earthquakes in October — has been hit by flash floods after heavy rain since Monday evening.

    Five members of the same family were killed Tuesday when the roof of their home collapsed in the provincial capital of Herat city, disaster management official Abdul Zaher Noorzai told reporters.

    Provisional data showed about 250 houses had been destroyed and vast tracts of farmland flooded, he added, saying aid should begin arriving on Thursday.

    Like many other houses in the area, the one that caved-in on the five relatives had been damaged in a series of earthquakes five months ago, local imam Naqibullah told AFP.

    The trio of quakes — starting on October 7 — killed nearly 1,500 and left some 30,000 homes totally or partially destroyed, according to the United Nations.

  • Tourists stranded at Babusar Top after heavy snowfall

    Tourists stranded at Babusar Top after heavy snowfall

    Heavy snowfall in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Babusar Top area has trapped many tourists including their vehicles.

    According to the government, up to 3 inches of snow have fallen on the Babusar Top and emergency teams have been sent to the area to evacuate tourists who have got stuck in their vehicles. Passengers and visitors are advised to avoid using the highway until further notice.

    Heavy snowfall is continuing at Babusar Top, according to the Gilgit-Baltistan chief secretary, and the Babusar-Naran National Highway has been momentarily closed for all kinds of traffic.

    More than 50 vehicles, carrying lots of passengers and visitors, were evacuated at Babusar Top due to snowfall and harsh weather, as per rescue personnel. The rescued tourists were taken to Babusar Centre.

    Periodic snowfall is continuing at Babusar Top, according to rescue officials, while the mercury has fallen below freezing.

  • Murree residents block roads by throwing snow, demand money, investigation ordered

    Murree residents block roads by throwing snow, demand money, investigation ordered

    Rawalpindi police has taken notice of the repeated incidents of blocking of roads in Murree by people throwing snow. Capital City Policer Officer (CCPO) has taken the notice of a complaint registered by a citizen and has ordered relevant authorities to take action against the people involved. Further investigations are underway.

    Earlier, Journalist Hamid Mir posted a video of a person narrating how some locals of Murree throw snow on the roads on purpose. They then demand money from the tourists in return of clearing the roads.

  • End of toxic smog in Punjab: Met Office predicts rain across country

    End of toxic smog in Punjab: Met Office predicts rain across country

    The people of Punjab will finally be able to take a deep breath. The Met Office has predicted rain across the country, in the upcoming 36 hours, which will clear the blanket of toxic smog in the province.

    The most awaited rain, as per the forecast of weather experts, is expected at different parts of the country during the weekend after a prolonged dry spell and help subside the prevailing smog in the plain areas of Punjab.

    Travellers had been facing severe inconvenience, especially on the motorways, due to the intense fog in most areas of Punjab at morning and night hours while some motorways authorities imposed travel restrictions at certain places with severe smoggy conditions.

    Rain would give relief to the citizens facing allergies, as well as influenza and cough due to the dry weather spell. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) revealed that a weak westerly weather system is likely to enter upper parts of the country and would persist till Sunday.

    Under this weather system, rain with snowfall over the hills is expected in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad and Northeast Punjab on Saturday (evening or night) and Sunday.

    Rain with wind-thunderstorm is also expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Pishin, Zhob and its surrounding on Saturday (evening or night).

    Rain-wind-thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills is expected in Kashmir, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad on Sunday.

    Light rain/wind-thunderstorm is expected in Haripur, Swabi, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Charsadda, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal and Lahore on Saturday night and Sunday.

    Snowfall is also expected in Neelum valley, Bagh, Rawalakot, Nathiagali, Galliyat, Naran, Kaghan, Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu, Astore, Chitral, Dir, Swat and Malam Jabba on Sunday. About the possible impacts of the rain, the Met office said the prevailing smog conditions would likely to subside in plains of Punjab while the dense fog would likely to develop over plain areas of Punjab from Monday. The night temperatures would likely to fall gradually after the wet spell and severe cold weather conditions may prevail at certain places.

  • ‘Chocolate snow’ falls over Swiss town after ventilation defect at Lindt factory

    ‘Chocolate snow’ falls over Swiss town after ventilation defect at Lindt factory

    A chocolate lovers’ dream came true for residents of a small Swiss town when “chocolate snow” started falling from the sky after a ventilation fault at a Lindt factory.

    According to details, the ventilation system of the Lindt and Spruengli company factory broke down and a light dust of cocoa powder spread in the nearby areas due to the winds.

    The company made it known that the particles will not damage people or the environment. The company also confirmed that they will bear all cleaning costs as a car was covered in chocolate powder.

    The problem was quickly addressed by the company and work resumed in the factory.

    People kind of enjoyed the sweet disaster in the year 2020.

    https://twitter.com/navdhad/status/1295721821074067456?s=20

  • VIDEO: LUMS Students rescued in Gilgit by the Pak Army

    VIDEO: LUMS Students rescued in Gilgit by the Pak Army

    Twenty-two students from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) had gone skiing in Gilgit and had been stuck in the area for five days due to heavy snow and landslides. LUMS administration approached the Army for help and the Chief of Army Staff, Qamar Javed Bajwa directed the army to find and rescue them by helicopter.

    They were all unhurt and saved by the army and have reached Rawalpindi to return home safely.

    LUMS students rescued by the Pak Army. Photo released by ISPR

    The LUMS Adventure Society organizes such events every year and the students stay in army guest houses. Thirteen boys and nine girls were on this particular trip when they were surrounded by snow in Rattu, Gilgit.

    LUMS students relating their experience

    Temperatures in Pakistan have hit record lows with major cities like Karachi and Lahore facing the most difficult winter in recent times.