The first rain of current winter which brought an end to persistent dry weather on Saturday with an increase intensity of cold in plain areas and heavy snowfall in hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

With the advent of moist and cold wave most parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were in a grip of frosty waves and unprecedented snowfall was witnessed in hilly and northern areas.

Farmers and agriculturist termed current rain a gift for rain-dependant agricultural areas as they were facing water scarcity at the start of wheat growing season.

The rain also mitigated the miseries of patients suffering from chronic pulmonary, asthma and seasonal allergies diseases by diminishing allergens and dust, the main cause of their problems.

The people of Mohmand Agency, Khyber Agency and Bajur Agency faced hardships due to road closure by heavy snowfall after ten years and news of edibles shortage in some areas was also reported.

Heavy snowfall in Chitral and its surrounding areas has disrupted routine life and hundreds of passengers are wedged on Chitral-Dir Road on either sides of Lowari Tunnel.

Parachinar remained coldest with minimum temperature recorded minus 12 degree Celsius, Skardu minus 8 while minus 7 degree Celsius was recorded in Malmjabba.

According to Met Office more rains and snowfall in Gilgit, Baltistan and upper parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are expected in next 24 hours.