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ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Thursday issued a cold wave alert for Gilgit-Baltistan, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, warning of extremely low temperatures and heavy snowfall over the coming days.&nbsp;According to the National Emergencies Operations Centre (NEOC), very cold to extremely cold conditions are expected to prevail, particularly during nighttime and early morning hours, while daytime temperatures are likely to remain below normal.&nbsp;The forecast indicates moderate to heavy snowfall in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/more-than-75000-domestic-tourists-visit-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-during-new-years" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">high-altitude and hilly areas</a>, which could disrupt road connectivity, transportation, and power supply in mountainous regions. NDMA warned that the prevailing conditions may increase the risk of snow slides and avalanches at vulnerable locations, posing threats to human lives, infrastructure, and livestock.&nbsp;Adjoining plains are expected to experience&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/cold-wave-grips-pakistan-fog-and-freezing-temperatures-set-to-intensify" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(44, 130, 201);" rel="noopener noreferrer">cold</a><a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/cold-wave-grips-pakistan-fog-and-freezing-temperatures-set-to-intensify" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(44, 130, 201);">, dry weather</a>, with frost in isolated areas. The authority cautioned that prolonged exposure to extreme cold may increase health risks, especially for children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing medical conditions. Frost could also damage standing crops and orchards in nearby plain areas.&nbsp;NDMA advised the public to avoid non-essential travel to high-altitude and snowfall-prone areas and urged travelers to use snow chains where travel is unavoidable. Citizens were also asked to make adequate arrangements for heating, <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/volunteers-bring-winter-relief-to-islamabads-daily-wage-workers" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">warm clothing and shelter</a>, with special attention to vulnerable populations.&nbsp;The authority directed provincial and district administrations to remain on high alert and ensure preparedness for snow-clearance operations, emergency response, and the timely restoration of essential services, including electricity and communications.&nbsp;NDMA said it would continue to monitor the situation through NEOC and issue further updates as required. The public has been advised to rely on official information disseminated through television, radio, verified social media platforms, and the &ldquo;Pak NDMA Disaster Alert&rdquo; mobile application.

Climate & Environment

The National Disaster Management Authority warns of an increased risk of snow slides and avalanches at vulnerable locations, posing a threat to human lives, infrastructure, and livestock.

Pakistan issues cold wave alert for northern regions

BEIJING: About 900 hikers, guides and other staff who were stranded by a weekend snowstorm on the Chinese side of Mount Everest have reached safety, state media said late Tuesday. A severe storm struck the area Saturday night, cutting off access to where the hikers were staying in tents at an altitude of more than 4,900 meters (16,000 feet). In all, 580 hikers and more than 300 guides, yak herders, and other workers were stranded. About 350 hikers were able to descend by noon Monday, and the rest had arrived by Tuesday, state media said, citing the local government. Some hikers reportedly had hypothermia, and the official Xinhua News Agency said about a dozen of them were escorted to a meeting point by teams with food, medicine, heating, and oxygen supplies. The scenic area at Mount Everest in China&#39;s Tibet region has been temporarily closed. The 8,850-meter (29,000-foot) peak, the world&#39;s highest, straddles the border with Nepal. The storm struck during a weeklong holiday that ends Wednesday. Many Chinese travel at home and abroad during the holiday, which marks the anniversary of the founding of the People&#39;s Republic of China on October 1, 1949. In Nepal, a South Korean climber died in a weekend storm near the summit of Mera Peak, a 6,476-meter (21,250-foot) Himalayan mountain south of Everest. Early-season snowstorms hit at least two other areas in western China over the weekend, killing one person and stranding motorists on an icy and snowy highway near a scenic hiking spot. More than 200 people were evacuated from a remote and rugged valley in the Qilian Mountains in Qinghai province. One person died of hypothermia and altitude sickness. The area is undeveloped, and authorities later warned people against entering without permission, citing the rugged terrain, unpredictable weather, and an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). In northwest China&#39;s Xinjiang region, the Kanas scenic area was closed after a snowstorm on Sunday that stranded motorists on a nearby highway. The road had been cleared by Monday, according to state media.

Climate

About 900 hikers and guides stranded by a snowstorm on Mount Everest’s Chinese side have been rescued, some suffering from hypothermia. The scenic area is closed due to other storms across western China, which have caused fatalities and travel disruptions.

Articles tagged with "Snowstorm"

Pakistan issues cold wave alert for northern regions

Hundreds of hikers rescued from Everest after severe snowstorm