QUETTA (Dunya News) - Life has been severely disrupted across Balochistan as temperatures plunged to minus 12 degrees Celsius, freezing even running water.
Despite snowfall stopping in northern and upper regions of the province, intense cold and Siberian winds continue to grip the area. In Quetta, Kalat, Chaman, and Ziarat, sub-zero temperatures have frozen household water pipelines, causing an acute shortage of drinking water.
Due to extreme cold, water in ponds, on roads, and in open areas has frozen solid. Several sections of the Quetta–Ziarat highway remain covered with snow. The administration has imposed a ban on tourist travel to Ziarat for the next 24 hours, while the N-50 Zhob Highway is closed at multiple points.
Daily life in Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Ziarat, Pishin, and Toba Achakzai has been badly affected. In Pak-Afghan border and upper regions, temperatures as low as minus 12 degrees were recorded. The National Highway Authority and district administrations are continuing road clearance operations using salt and heavy machinery.