QUETTA: Widespread rain and snowfall across several districts of Balochistan have severely disrupted daily life, intensified the cold wave, and led to casualties and infrastructure damage in various areas.
According to local authorities, intermittent light to moderate snowfall has affected Quetta, Qalat, Ziarat, Mastung, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Chaman, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, and other upper regions of the province, paralyzing routine activities.
In Quetta’s Killi Shahozai area of Muhammad Shahi Town, the roof of a house collapsed on Monday, killing one person, identified as Liaquat Ali, while two others sustained injuries.
In a separate incident in Dukki, four people, including a shopkeeper, were injured when a shop roof collapsed on Mosque Road. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The adverse weather caused major power outages as 24 K-Electric Supply Company (KESCO) feeders tripped in Quetta, leaving several areas without electricity. Gas pressure also dropped significantly, adding to the hardships faced by residents.
Snow accumulation disrupted traffic on key highways, including the N-50 linking Quetta with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Kan Mehtarzai, Khanozai, and Muslim Bagh. Traffic was also affected on the Quetta–Chaman road at Kork Top and the Quetta–Karachi highway at Lakpass. Slippery conditions on the Quetta–Sindh highway in Kolpur and Dasht raised fears of accidents.
The Meteorological Department reported that over the past 24 hours, Qalat recorded approximately five inches of snowfall, while Quetta received half an inch.
Rainfall measurements included 34 mm in Qalat, 17 mm in Ziarat, 15 mm in Dalbandin, 9 mm in Noshki, 8 mm in Nokundi, and 3 mm in Quetta, Sibi, and Chaman. Minimum temperatures dropped sharply, with Ziarat recording minus 8°C, Qalat minus 7°C, Quetta minus 4°C, Chaman minus 2°C, and Zhob minus 1°C.
The weather department has forecast heavy rain over the next 12 to 24 hours in Gwadar, Jiwani, Pasni, Kech, Panjgur, Washuk, Khuzdar, Awaran, and Chagai, warning of possible flooding in streams and nullahs. Light rain with strong winds is expected in Kachhi, Sibi, Harnai, Dukki, Kohlu, Jhal Magsi, and Loralai, while snowfall is likely to continue in Quetta, Ziarat, Qalat, Chaman, and Pishin until Tuesday night.
