Hailstorm lashes city.

Byline: Iqtidar Gilani

LAHORE -- A heavy spell of hailstorm brought the city to a grinding halt late on Tuesday evening.

Earlier, parts of the country including Lahore received rainfall of varying intensities on Tuesday with experts predicting the wet spell to continue intermittently on Wednesday (today).

The wet conditions disturbed routine life by causing inundation on portions of roads, roadsides, power outages and frequent traffic jams in major cities including Lahore.

Overcast conditions, intermittent rains, continuously blowing winds and snowfall over the hills caused decrease in the mercury level, increasing chill in weather during the day and at nighttime.

Kalat remained the coldest place in the country where mercury dropped 09 degree Celsius below the freezing point. Minimum temperature in Bagrote was recorded -06C, Quetta and Gupis -05C, Skardu and Kalam -04C, Murree, Malamjabba and Dalbandin -03C, Zhob, Hunza, Drosh, Rawalakot and Parachinar -02C, Nukkundi, Mirkhani, Astore, Chillas, and Panjgur -01C. In Lahore, minimum temperature was recorded 09C.

In Lahore, the rains continued intermittently throughout the day, disturbing routine life by causing inundation on portions of roads, roadsides, frequent traffic jam and tripping of more than 100 Lesco feeders. More than one dozen feeders could not be restored until filing of this report late night.

Inundated rainwater on portions, roadsides and slippery conditions caused massive traffic jams on important city roads. Several incidents of skidding of motorcycles were also reported from various parts of Lahore.

Overcast conditions, continuously blowing winds and scattered showers increased chill in weather by decreasing temperature. People preferred to stay indoors wrapped in woolies and blankets to avoid exposure to harsh weather...