Inclement weather: Two more spells of rain in store for Peshawar

Seven dead, five injured in various weather-related accidents in province.

Parts of the city were inundated by three days of rainfall which finally ended Sunday evening.

In the last spell, which began on Friday, the city recorded 47 millimetres (mm) of rain. The torrential rain pushed the maximum temperature down to 20 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature was recorded at 12 degrees Celsius.

The rain and sewage water also created slush in areas where roads have been dug up for laying sewer lines or other work. Pipal Mandi, Khyber Bazaar, Gulbahar, Mohallah Jangi among other parts of the city were flooded due to silting and garbage in the main drainage.

Peshawar Meteorological Office Director Syed Mushtaq Ali Shah said two more spells of rainfall are expected in the next few days.

The heavy downpour also resulted in the collapse of an electricity tower in Taj Chowk, Saeedabad, which killed a boy, identified as Mansoor. Meanwhile, two more people were injured when the roof of a shop collapsed in Dabgari Garden.

Hazara division

Rains in Hazara division brought back the winter as temperatures plummeted. Rain lashed upper Hazara including Kohistan, Battagram, Kaghan, Torghar and Natiagali on Friday evening and was continuing till this report was filed.

Meanwhile, Kaghan, Nathiagali and hilly areas of Kohistan received between eight to 10 inches of snow.

According to some reports received at the divisional headquarters, a few mud houses had been partially damaged in Khanpur valley, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar and Kohistan.

The rain also flooded the water courses in different parts of Hazara. Landslides in some areas suspended vehicular traffic on the GT Road. However, no loss of life was reported till the filing of this report.

Chitral

Snowfall and heavy rain resulted in the disruption of electricity supply to Chitral and the closure of the Lowari Tunnel for all traffic.

According to the Peshawar Meteorological Office, six inches of snow was recorded in the area after which the tunnel was closed to prevent vehicles from slipping and skidding into ravines. An avalanche also hit Roji, Garam Chishma, blocking 300 feet of the road.

An official of the Chitral police said due to the heavy downpour all the electricity pylons near the tunnel, which supply power to the district, were pulled out and the supply was disconnected.

Locals have also been warned not to go to Kalash valley as the only road leading to it has been washed away by the rains. “People of the valley have been stranded while those who need to travel to Upper Chitral are adopting alternate routes,” the official said.

Swabi/Karak

In Swabi, a woman was killed when the roof of her house collapsed in Tordhar.

Muhammad Yahya’s house collapsed in Nari Panoos killing his eight-year-old daughter Shabnam. The roof of a house in Aman Kot caved in, injuring four-year-old Sanaullah and 18-months-old Rabia. They were taken to the headquarters hospital in critical condition.

Meanwhile, five members of a family were killed and three others injured in the area when the roof of their house collapsed late Saturday night.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2013.