PESHAWAR: Light to moderate rain with snowfall over the mountains is likely in upper parts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa, including Chitral, from January 27.
Based on the forecast made by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) directed the departments concerned to remain on alert to meet any emergency.
The PMD said, “Light to moderate rain (with snowfall over the hills) is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Abbottabad, Manshera, Haripur, Kohistan, Shangla, Bunner, Karak, Peshawar, Charsada, Nowshera, Swabi, Buner, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Bannu and Kohat from 27th (night) to 31st January. with occasional.”
In 2023, Chitral had received the year’s first snowfall on November 3.
It may be noted that since early November 2023, the whole country has been under the grip of a dry spell and cold wave.
People in Chitral are worried about a drought like situation and shortage of water in the summer if there is no sufficient rain and snowfall in February and March.
No or less rain, among other impacts, could also destabilize glaciers leading to their fast melting and causing more floods in the summer.