Caught unprepared: At least 9 die as roofs buckle under rain in K-P, FATA

Chitral plunges into darkness; Lowari Top closes

SHABQADAR/ CHITRAL/ PESHAWAR/ BANNU/ MARDAN/ BATKHELA:

At least nine people were reported dead and dozens others injured after rain slashed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas on Sunday. On Saturday, at least seven people were reported dead from Fata as a result of weather-related accidents.

Deaths and injuries

In Bannu, two minor boys died when the roof of a house caved in due to persistent rainfall for the third consecutive day.

Arifullah told the media the roof of his house collapsed Saturday night. Subsequently, his two sons, three-year-old Abu Huraira and five-year-old Bilal, died on the spot. The bodies were recovered after several hours. Arifullah said his house is in Bakakhel, Bannu.

In Lund Khwar, Mardan, a woman died and her husband was injured. Moreover, four others were injured in separate parts of the district.

According to Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Bilal Faizi, eight buildings have so far collapsed in Mardan.

Mardan Deputy Commissioner Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh has cancelled the holidays of officials and staff of the revenue and health departments as well as the Tehsil Municipal Administration till March 21. The decision was taken after a rain emergency was imposed in Mardan.

In Malakand, a 70-year-old man, Warkotay Khan, died when the roof of his house collapsed in Galoshah-Sakhakot. Locals said around 15 houses were damaged in the area due to rainfall. Batkhela Assistant Commissioner Ishfaq Ahmed Tarani told the media he has distributed tents among people in the affected areas.

In Peshawar, two people were injured when the roof of a house collapsed in Khan Mast Colony.

A minor died in a similar incident in Mamond area of Bajaur Agency. The name of the deceased two-year-old was Minhaj. In addition, two girls died in a similar incident in Khar.

Similarly, in Ghallanai, Mohmand Agency, roof of Sher Jan’s house collapsed. Five members of the house came under the debris. However, they were rescued and taken to Agency Headquarters Hospital.

In Lower Mohmand Agency, four of a family were injured when roof of their room caved in. The injured were taken to Peshawar by locals after a rescue operation. From the frontier regions, two deaths were reported from FR Bannu, FDMA Operation Director Dr Qasim Ali Khan told The Express Tribune.

Shops selling plastic covers have doubled the prices as people in Shabqadar, Mohmand and Bajaur are rushing to buy plastic covers to protect their mud houses to prevent further damage. In another area, four animals were buried under the debris of a shed.

Snowfall

The downpour followed by snowfall also interrupted routine life of residents of many areas in northern region.

The city of Chitral plunged into darkness as electricity in the national grid station was disconnected due to heavy snowfall recorded in Kalash, Shah Salim and Lowari Top which were also closed.

Wapda SDO Ghulam Rashid told The Express Tribune their staff has started working to restore electricity.

Heavy snowfall also closed roads leading to Malam Jabba.

The meteorological department has predicted more snowfall in the same region during the next 48 hours. However, a large number of tourists thronged Swat to enjoy the cold weather.

Making room: Khanpur Dam spillways opened thrice

The reservoir of Khanpur Dam was filled to the maximum conservation level forcing authorities to release surplus water for the third time on Sunday. The reservoir was filled following heavy rain on the third consecutive day.

To avoid any emergency and harm to the dam's structure and populated areas on both sides of Harro River, the authorities opened the spillway on Friday evening, discharging 6,500 cusecs of water. The level was brought to 1,978 feet as maximum conservation was 1,982 feet, an official said.

However, due to forecast of heavy inflow in the reservoir, the dam authorities again discharged 6,500 cusecs of water on Saturday and decided to operate the spillway for the third time Sunday evening between 4pm to 12am releasing another 6,500 cusecs so enough space could be created for more water that is expected during the next couple of days.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2016.