ISLAMABAD: The citizens of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have welcomed the long-awaited first Winter rain which will help dissipate smog that was causing health hazards to the citizens and inconvenience while traveling.

The light rain started at around 2:00 pm on Tuesday and continued in various parts of twin cities with occasional gaps.

The long-awaited rain-spell of this winter season is although not of much intensity in most parts of the country but still has subsided prevailing smog that engulfed various parts, reducing miseries of the citizens.

Smoggy conditions in plain areas of Punjab due to lack of rain was posing serious health risks to the citizens and inconvenience to the commuters especially on Motorway leading to different Punjab’ province cities.

While the present rain-spell was a sigh of relief for the citizens who were suffering from different ailments and allergies due to dusty and polluted atmosphere and especially the travelers facing zero visibility on the Motorway.

The weather experts have indicated chances of more rain-thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills at scattered places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Islamabad, upper Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan during the next 24 hours.

Talking to APP, Meteorologist, PMD, Imran Ahmad Siddiqui said the rain will significantly decrease temperatures across the country and add chill to the weather.

He said this rain spell will not be of great intensity but significantly subside the smoggy conditions caused due to pollution in air. The rain spell will continue till Wednesday night, he added.

The rainfall recorded during the last 24 hours was Balochistan: Zhob 28 mm, Barkhan, Kalat 07, Quetta (Smugli 04, Sheikh Manda 01), Lasbella 01. Punjab: Layyah 16, Dera Ghazi Khan 12, Kot addu 11, Khanpur 09, Bhakkar 07, Multan06, Bahawalpur (Airport 03, City 01), Toba Tek Singh 02, Jhang 01.Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Dera Ismail Khan 13, Bannu 01, Sindh: Sibbi 11, Jacobabad 06, Moenjodaro 04, Rohri and Sukkur 02.

The minimum temperatures recorded were Skardu -04 C and Kalat, Gupis and Kalam 00 C.—APP