Crashing down: Four killed in roof collapse incidents in Mardan

Fields of fruit, vegetables destroyed, many areas plunged into darkness


Our Correspondent July 08, 2016
Around 30 houses were demolished in the rainstorm caused by continuous heavy rainfall in the area near the Pak-Afghan border. PHOTO: INP

SHERGARH: At least four people died and 13 others were critically injured due to torrential rains followed by thunderstorms in Baizai area of Shergarh in Mardan during the first and second days of Eid.

The rain lasted for two days, destroying fields of fruits and vegetables.

According to locals, the inclement weather uprooted signboards and trees and a majority of injuries were caused by roof collapses.

The roof of Ghulam Qadir’s house caved in, killing his 50-year-old wife and her minor nephew Daniyal. The house owner, his son Abdul Rehman, Haji Gul, Zafar, Shabana, Abida, Hassan Pari and two-year-old Shah Fahad were critically injured.

Separately, the wife of Ismail and her minor daughter, Minahil, were killed when the roof of their house collapsed in Pir Saddi village. Ismail and four children, including Asad, Abdul Samad, Sana and Hibba were injured.

Shergarh SHO Pervez Khan reached the spot while Rescue 1122 ambulances transported the injured to the hospital.

In another incident, Irfan was injured when the roof of his house collapsed in Parao Jalala, Shergarh. Usman was injured when the wall of his house collapsed in Ittehad Colony.



The heavy rainfall also disrupted power supply and plunged several areas into darkness for 48 hours. Locals said the outage had yet to be resolved. They also complained of an acute water shortage in the area.

Many were forced to spend Eid in the dark and that too without water.

Mardan district nazim Himayatullah Mayar visited the affected areas and expressed sympathy with the victim families. He also announced Rs0.1 million to each family who lost a loved one and Rs50,000 to the injured.

Takht Bhai Assistant Commissioner Ishfaq Khan distributed tents to the deceased.

Officials from Pesco said 36 feeders had tripped of which 27 were restored by the next day. A spokesperson said there were only nine feeders which had yet to be restored and work was under way to bring them back online.

However, insiders said the damage was extensive and contractors were busy restoring power supply. They added there were at least 41 places still suffering without electricity up until Thursday evening.

The PDMA identified at least four people who were killed and another six injured. They were all taken to Mardan Medical Complex.

This incident comes on the coattails of the recent devastation in Chitral. At least 43 people, including eight security officials, were killed after torrential rain hit parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including the south west of Chitral district, triggering flash floods.

As many as 17 people were reportedly missing in Ursoon village while many were injured due to flash flooding caused by a cloudburst in the area, Chitral DPO Asif Iqbal told The Express Tribune.

Around 30 houses were demolished in the rainstorm caused by continuous heavy rainfall in the area near the Pak-Afghan border.

The worst hit district was Chitral, where floodwater swept away a mosque, several houses and an army post in Ursoon, district mayor Maghfirat Shah told AFP.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2016.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ