Fatal downpour: Four killed, three injured as province buckles under rain
PMD regional director says weather system entered Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa from Afghanistan
Policeman navigates traffic in Saddar Bazaar in the city. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
SHANGLA/MARDAN/PESHAWAR/CHITRAL:
At least four people were killed while three others were injured in rain-related incidents in various parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday.
A woman and a minor died while another woman was injured when the roof of a house collapsed on Kohat Road in Badhaber in the city.
According to initial reports, all three people were injured. Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Bilal Faizi told The Express Tribune the rescue team arrived and the deceased and injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital. Iqra, 8, and Aasia Bibi, 28 succumbed to their injuries while Hanifa, 14, was wounded.
In Chitral, residents told The Express Tribune two labourers died while another was wounded when a heavy boulder rolled down a hill and fell on their vehicle. The locals said the incident was triggered by heavy rain and snowfall in the district.
The deceased have been identified as Anwar Kamal and Zahiruddin. Lal Zaman was critically injured.
In another incident, a woman was injured when the wall of her house collapsed in Gujar Garhi area of Mardan.
Mercury drops
Temperatures plummeted as heavy rain and thunderstorms lashed various parts of K-P and the tribal belt on Wednesday.
According to an official of the meteorological department, 10 millimetres of rain was recorded in Peshawar till 5pm. Routine life screeched to a halt in the city as rainwater collected on roads. Dir received 26mm of rain, Parachinar 12mm, Timergara 17mm and Kalam, Chitral and Malam Jabba received 5mm of rain each along with heavy snowfall.
How and why
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Peshawar chapter has forecast heavy rain, thunderstorms and hailstorms across K-P.
PMD Regional Director Mushtaq Shah said, “A weather system entered K-P from the west on Tuesday and will continue to persist until Friday in the upper parts of K-P. However, in the central parts of the province, it will lose its strength by Thursday afternoon.”
He said temperatures across the province had increased over the past few days.
“However, temperatures had dropped considerably in Afghanistan,” he said. “Warm air carries more moisture while cold air is denser.”
Flights cancelled
Some flights were cancelled due to weather conditions. A PIA flight to Chitral did not take off from BKIA while another PIA flight that was expected to arrive at the facility from Chitral did not take off.
Heavy rain and snowfall hit various parts of Shangla, disrupting power supply in the district. Various parts of Chitral were also plunged into darkness as power supply remained disrupted.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2016.
At least four people were killed while three others were injured in rain-related incidents in various parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday.
A woman and a minor died while another woman was injured when the roof of a house collapsed on Kohat Road in Badhaber in the city.
According to initial reports, all three people were injured. Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Bilal Faizi told The Express Tribune the rescue team arrived and the deceased and injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital. Iqra, 8, and Aasia Bibi, 28 succumbed to their injuries while Hanifa, 14, was wounded.
In Chitral, residents told The Express Tribune two labourers died while another was wounded when a heavy boulder rolled down a hill and fell on their vehicle. The locals said the incident was triggered by heavy rain and snowfall in the district.
The deceased have been identified as Anwar Kamal and Zahiruddin. Lal Zaman was critically injured.
In another incident, a woman was injured when the wall of her house collapsed in Gujar Garhi area of Mardan.
Mercury drops
Temperatures plummeted as heavy rain and thunderstorms lashed various parts of K-P and the tribal belt on Wednesday.
According to an official of the meteorological department, 10 millimetres of rain was recorded in Peshawar till 5pm. Routine life screeched to a halt in the city as rainwater collected on roads. Dir received 26mm of rain, Parachinar 12mm, Timergara 17mm and Kalam, Chitral and Malam Jabba received 5mm of rain each along with heavy snowfall.
How and why
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Peshawar chapter has forecast heavy rain, thunderstorms and hailstorms across K-P.
PMD Regional Director Mushtaq Shah said, “A weather system entered K-P from the west on Tuesday and will continue to persist until Friday in the upper parts of K-P. However, in the central parts of the province, it will lose its strength by Thursday afternoon.”
He said temperatures across the province had increased over the past few days.
“However, temperatures had dropped considerably in Afghanistan,” he said. “Warm air carries more moisture while cold air is denser.”
Flights cancelled
Some flights were cancelled due to weather conditions. A PIA flight to Chitral did not take off from BKIA while another PIA flight that was expected to arrive at the facility from Chitral did not take off.
Heavy rain and snowfall hit various parts of Shangla, disrupting power supply in the district. Various parts of Chitral were also plunged into darkness as power supply remained disrupted.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2016.