Heavy rains, hail lash K-P districts

Spell expected to continue till Thursday; PDMA seeks report on damage

PESHAWAR:

Thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain and hail have brought a sharp drop in temperatures across most upper mountainous and lower districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the current wet spell is likely to persist until Thursday. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has already sought a detailed report on any loss of life and property caused by the rains.

Intermittent showers with thunder and lightning have been occurring in Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda and Nowshera for the past four days, particularly during the night hours. The heaviest downpour struck Peshawar and its suburbs late on Tuesday night, when intense rain mixed with hail battered the city.

Low-lying areas were quickly inundated as rainwater accumulated on roads, bringing traffic to a standstill across large parts of the city. A widespread power breakdown followed the storm, and electricity could not be restored in several localities until late at night.

Residents of flood-prone neighbourhoods reported water entering their homes, causing considerable hardship. Vehicles parked on streets and solar panels installed on rooftops also sustained damage in multiple localities.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the unsettled weather is forecast to linger for at least another day.