Heavy snowfall caused major disruption across several mountainous regions on Friday, leaving roads blocked and villages cut off in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
Rescue teams shifted dozens of stranded residents to safety, while all roads leading to Murree were closed after intense snowfall hit the hill station, according to the report.
The Islamabad Traffic Police issued an advisory for tourists planning to travel to Murree, urging them to postpone their trips due to unsafe conditions.
An ITP official said all entry routes to Murree were closed following overnight snowfall. Diversions were placed on Murree bound roads and vehicles were turned back to protect public safety.
The official said efforts were underway to clear snow from blocked roads but travel remained dangerous. Tourists were advised not to head to Murree until further notice and to cooperate with traffic personnel. Citizens were told they would be informed once roads reopened and could contact helplines 1915 or Pucar 15 for updates.
In District Khyber’s Tirah Valley, Rescue 1122 teams with support from Army soldiers evacuated more than 40 people including women and children to safer areas. The evacuees were provided food warm clothing and bedding, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Faizi said.
Around 55 people stranded in 20 vehicles in the Sandana area were also rescued. Teams from Peshawar Swabi and Nowshera took part in the operation despite slippery roads and heavy snowfall.
“People are stranded at various places due to heavy snowfall,” KP government spokesperson Shafi Jan said. “Contact with some areas is not possible due to the suspension of mobile phone signals and road closures, however, rescue operations are ongoing.”
In another incident, several people were stranded in four vehicles in the Bahrain area. Rescue officials said teams reached the site immediately and safely shifted all passengers while also recovering the vehicles.
Authorities said snow clearance operations were underway on Malam Jabba Road Kalam and surrounding areas. Traffic was also disrupted in South Waziristan’s Ladha town. In Mansehra, daily life was badly affected due to power outages road closures and disrupted telecom services.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, long awaited snowfall ended a prolonged dry spell as heavy snow fell in the Neelum and Leepa valleys along with rain in the plains. Temperatures dropped sharply making conditions extremely cold in upper areas. Daytime temperatures also fell while nights turned severely cold.
The Met Office forecast continued rain in the plains and snowfall in higher areas of AJK over the next 24 hours. Several areas including Muzaffarabad faced long power and telecom outages.
Heavy rain was also reported across parts of Sindh and Punjab, further intensifying the cold. According to the Meteorological Department, intermittent rain continued in Lahore where the temperature was recorded at 11 degrees Celsius. Rain also persisted in Rawalpindi Islamabad Sialkot and nearby areas, increasing the cold spell.
Karachi received its first rain of the winter season, bringing cooler conditions. The Met Department said a cold wave would continue until the end of January.
Over the next 24 hours, cold nights and dry weather are expected with maximum temperatures between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius. Humidity was recorded at 33 percent while light northeast winds improved the city’s air quality.
Heavy rain was also reported overnight in several areas of Khyber district. In Azad Kashmir, snowfall and rain led to road closures in the upper Neelum Valley and on the highway linking Leepa with Reshiyan.
Northern areas of Balochistan also experienced severe cold as temperatures dropped sharply. Ziarat recorded minus 15 degrees Celsius, while Quetta fell to minus 11 and Qalat to minus 12. Subzero temperatures were also recorded in Nathiagali Thandiani and Murree.
On the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, food supplies were distributed among tourists stranded in Murree. Provincial Minister for Communications Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharath was present in the area to oversee arrangements.
The minister said all measures for snow removal and salt sprinkling on highways were in place and machinery was deployed on major roads.
He added that 13 tourist facilitation centres were fully operational and district administration staff including highway officials, were on high alert. Traffic police were also patrolling Murree’s highways.
Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharath said tourists in Murree were satisfied with the arrangements and were enjoying the weather safely.