ISLAMABAD: Cold waves griped Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the northern areas of the country on Thursday as new spell of rain and snowfall started in different areas, forcing the people to remain indoors.

Heavy rain started in early hours of the day and continued till afternoon in the valleys and plains, while snowfall occurred on hilly areas and peaks of the mountains, bringing the daily life activities to almost a standstill in northern areas.

Margalla Hills and Pir sohawa received light snowfall for two hours after almost ten years, an official of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) told media.

A large number of people thronged to Margalla hills and Pir Sohawa to enjoy the snow after media reported that the city’s hill resorts received snowfall after a decade. It also snowed in Abbottabad.

“A two inch white blanket has covered the picnic spot of Pir Sohawa and upper hills which has attracted the tourists,” the official said.

PMD has predicted that the showers will continue in several areas including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir until Friday.