Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's drains of death swallow up dozens

Lack of maintenance, safety measures and boundary walls have led to several drownings

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P)'s tourism sector may well eagerly await the arrival of the summer season, when soaring temperatures across the country push families towards the cooler, mountainous regions, but the accompanying monsoons often spell death and disaster for the province's population.

With locals all too familiar with the likelihood of drowning in a deadly drain during the devastating downpours, July and August are nothing but months of misery. Such was the opinion of Charsadda local Akhtar Gul, who bemoaned the lack of preventative infrastructure in his town which was exposed to the disastrous repercussions of the seasonal rainfall.

"Even though my area is home to several prominent political families, no arrangements have been made to install a proper drainage system or construct protective walls along the riverbanks, leaving the area susceptible to flooding. The outdated Munda bridge, a relic of the British era, is frequently swept away during the floods. Moreover, the main drains along highways are clogged with debris, causing blockages that lead to accidents, which are rarely investigated," riled Gul.

Confirming Gul's observation, Noman Khan, a local from Peshawar, shared his harrowing experience of falling off his bike into an overflowing drain on Dalazak Road during the recent rain spell. "While passing in front of the drain during the recent rainfall, I lost comtrol and fell into it, causing me to sustain several injuries on my feet. Open drains on Dalazak Road, High Court Road, Charsadda Road, and Ganj Gate pose a significant threat to the lives of children, women, and the elderly, inviting accidents and potential death. In such a scenario, if the city experiences more rain, the number of accidents will inevitably increase," warned Khan.

As per reports, Abida Bibi, a 40-year-old woman from the Malakand Division met a tragic end in July, when she drowned in an overflowing rain drain after a heavy downpour. Similarly, Amjad, a local from Dara Adam Khel in Kohat, had a devastating encounter when heavy rainfall caused water to inundate the basement of his house, resulting in the tragic loss of ten family members, including Amjad himself. Furthermore, Irshad Bibi, 62, and Saqib Khor, 18, both drowned in a drain in Charsadda while a total of six other individuals, including women and children, suffered injuries after falling into an overflowing drain at the Bhai Phatak Road in Chamkani, a suburb of Peshawar. Such calamities underscore the importance of an effective drainage system and well-planned infrastructure which could prevent such disasters from occurring in the first place

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of K-P, the recent monsoon rains have resulted in a significant loss of life and property. The authority reported that 65 individuals, including 23 men, 12 women, and 30 children, have lost their lives in the province so far, while 113 other people were injured, 789 houses were destroyed, and 150 cattle had perished.

Bilal Faizi, spokesperson for Rescue 1123, emphasized the organization's efforts to ensure preparedness during the monsoon rains in Peshawar. "All teams are kept on high alert, and rescue staff, in collaboration with other departments, are working to clear blocked drains and ensure the smooth flow of water to prevent major accidents," he asserted.

Speaking to the Express Tribune on the matter, Commissioner Peshawar, Riyaz Mehsood assured that the administration was vigilant and proactive in responding to the rain situation. "To mitigate the risk of accidents caused by open drains, water and sanitation teams are promptly dispatched to remove water using machines, thereby controlling the flood situation effectively," claimed Mehsood.