Seven die as downpour continues across K-P

Bodies of two students who went missing after avalanche found

ABBOTTABAD/ SWAT/ PESHAWAR/CHITRAL:

At least seven people, including five children, died in separate rain-related incidents in Peshawar and Abbottabad Saturday night, while the bodies of two students — who went missing after the avalanche in Chitral —were found Sunday morning.

As rain lashed the region, roof of Habib Noor’s house collapsed in Fazalabad area of Urmar Miana, Peshawar. Subsequently, 11-year-old Qasim and 12-year-old Malalai died while four other members of the family were injured. The incident was confirmed by officials of Lady Reading Hospital where the injured were taken.



However, when contacted, the Peshawar district administration had no information about the incident.

A roof of another house collapsed in Mohalla Teliyan in Gor Gathri area of the city on Sunday. The house was owned by a photographer of Daily Express. It was damaged during the October 26, 2015 earthquake. His family had then evacuated the house and moved to a safer place.
Four people died due to downpour in an area of Mardan.

In a village of Bhogarmang valley in Abbottabad, an eight-year-old girl died when she was struck by lightning.

Muhammad Saleem, a resident of Bozbela village, told the media his daughter Rimsha was busy doing household chores when she was hit by lightning and critically injured. She was taken to Ayub Medical Complex where she succumbed to her injuries.

In Makraha Miyana village, the roof of steel sheet on a house fell, injuring a woman and her two daughters. They were taken to Kind Abdullah Teaching Hospital where they were stated to be out of danger.

Abbottabad district nazim Sardar Sher Bahadur told the media basic health units in the district have also been damaged in the downpour.



Chitral avalanche

On the other hand, the bodies of two missing students were recovered by the rescue teams in Susum village of Karimabad in Chitral. The area was hit by avalanche Saturday night.

The bodies of Mubashir and Rehmat were recovered after a search of four hours. Police personnel, army district administration people and local volunteers were working in the area but the weather is hindering rescue work.

The students who were trapped under the avalanche were most nine graders who were going home after an examination. A member of Kohat district council, Muhammad Yaqub Khan, told The Express Tribune three feet snow was recorded in Chital for a week.

Meanwhile, the education department in the district has changed the examination centres from Susum village to Matsal Harat.

Clogged paths

Meanwhile, Kalam road remained closed for a third day due to extreme weather conditions. This has left locals worrying about shortage of necessities. They have therefore demanded the road cleaning process be expedited so that any such situation could be avoided.



The perpetual rain and snowfall caused landslides that blocked Kalam road at different places. The district administration workers removed rocks and fallen trees from some places.
According to PDMA, at least 34 people have lost their lives is separate rain-related incidents in K-P.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st,  2016.