Cold spell grips as snowfall, rain lash Country

ABBOTABAD—Season’s first snowfall started in Northern Areas, Galliyat and Azad Kashmir unleashing severe cold and frosty weather in the region.
The rain and snowfall have also caused closure of several roads for traffic in Gallyat, Kaghan and AJK. Rainfall was continued from late night Saturday in Abbotabad and adjoining areas. According to Met Office 1.5 to two feet snowfall was recorded in Galliayat, while upper areas of Kaghan Valley received three to four feet snow.
Abbotabad to Murree road was closed at Kalabagh point, while Kaghan-Naran road was also closed for traffic after heavy snowfall inthe region. Gilgit, Hunza and Naltar valleys received first snowfall of the season, while heavy snowfall was reported at Sino-Pak border region. People in the quake-hit areas of Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Chakothi, Chinari and Neelum Valley are facing hardships after rainy weather unlashed in the region.
Declaring emergency in the city in the backdrop of rain, the city Nazim, Syed Mustafa Kamal has directed different departments of city government and town and UCs administration to open its office and make plan to cope with situation arising out from the second spell of winter rains.
He directed the officials of CDGK departments including fire brigade, works and services, health, parks and horticulture, water and sewerage to activate all machinery and staff to cope with any situation during the emergency.
The City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal along with city government officers paid a seven-hours long visit to different localities especially low-lying areas on Sunday to accesses the situation after the rain .
He visited Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, North Karachi, Orangi, Baldia, Lyari, Clifton, Mehmoodabad, Korangi, Shah Faisal, Malir and Landhi areas to review situation after the rains.
He also inspected the embankments of different storm water drains, Malir Nadi and Lyari Nadi and asked officials concerned to activate the inspecting operation in full swing.
He further asked town administrations and union councils to remove stagnant rainwater on all main roads in their respective areas with the help of sanitary workers.
The Nazim Mustafa Kamal also telephoned various town nazims and inquired the latest situation and instructed to submit report him after visit their respective jurisdictions. He further asked city government officials to prepare its staff and machinery to control any untoward condition during the rains.
The nazim said that accumulated rainwater would be drain out within next 24-hours as, he noted, some places inundated with rainwater due to the lack of drainage system.
The CDGK has advised the citizens to inform city government officials in case of any emergency on the phone numbers 134 or rain emergency center in DCO Control Room 9203443 and 9205639, where rescue teams with machinery have completed its preparation to cope with any emergency.—Agencies