Four kids among six killed in rains

Failed drainage canal allows rainwater to accumulate in shops causing over Rs30m loss

PESHAWAR: Six persons, including four children, have been killed and as many injured during torrential rains in the province that started on Wednesday night. Heavy downpour wreaked havoc on houses and failed drainage system allowed water to enter shops in Peshawar causing over Rs30 million loss.

Two men from Haripur and one child each from Buner, Swabi, Mardan and Mansehra have fallen victims to the monsoon spell.

According to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 44 millimetres rain has been recorded during the last 24 hours in Peshawar.



Damage details issued by PDMA show that a total of six houses have been fully damaged, while four partially across K-P.

Rain has handed the city’s oldest printing market - having around 1,500 shops - a loss of over Rs30 million.

Frontier Printers and Publishers Association, K-P President Murad Hussain told The Express Tribune that rainwater ruined printing materials, including machines and paper rolls.

“Each shopkeeper of more than 60 shops has suffered a loss of around Rs500,000,” Hussain lamented, adding, more than 15 hours have passed, but the authorities concerned have yet to remove the accumulated rainwater.

To a question as to how rainwater entered the shops, Hussain cited overflow of water in Shahi Katta –main sewage drain – as the major reason.

“We have asked the authorities concerned to take action against encroachment on Shahi Katta, which is blocking rainwater from being drained, but they have not taken any action yet,” he claimed.

Owing to the overflow in Shahi Katta, water entered shops and houses at Chowk Yadgar, Usmania Colony on Warsak Road, National Bank Colony, and University Road and the basement of Peshawar Press Club.



However, Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) Manager Operations Adil Khan told The Express Tribune that rainwater accumulated on University Road and other areas - under the jurisdiction of WSSP - has been cleared.

Councilor of Usmania Colony, Manzoor Ahmad Khan, said, “On Wednesday night at around 3am rainwater seeped into 13 general stores and saloons.”

Overflowing of water from the drain near Warsak Road has also damaged three houses, he added.

PDMA’s spokesperson Taimor Khan said they have despatched 50 tents, 90 blankets, 100 kitchen sets, 50 gas cylinders, 100 jerry cans and 100 mosquito nets to the rain-hit regions of districts Malakand, Shangla and Lower Dir to help victims of the heavy rain survive.

Blackouts as 123 feeders trip

Power outages seem to be directly linked to rains in Peshawar as whenever rain falls load shedding occurs and that too for prolonged hours.

Owing to Wednesday night’s downpour, a total of 123 feeders have tripped across the province plunging the city into darkness.

A resident of Peshawar Gulbahar area, Qaiser Ali, said power outage occurs every time there is a downpour – whether it is of low intensity or high.

He said this has been happening for many years, but the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) has not yet come up with a solution.



He said there is no light since Wednesday night when the rains started.

PDMA said in a statement that the present weather system in K-P has weakened.

However, it predicted more monsoon rains in upper parts of K-P starting from Sunday till Wednesday.

Pesco spokesperson Shaukat Afzal said, “Only 23 feeders are left, while the rest have been fixed.”