In the aftermath: Rainstorm leaves trail of destruction in its wake

District administration takes initiatives to provide relief to affected population.

PESHAWAR/ CHARSADDA:

At least 150 houses have been damaged by heavy rains and strong winds which lashed the provincial capital Sunday evening. With over 40 people dead, the disaster is the worst to hit Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in the last 20 years.

Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune, 60 to 70 of the damaged houses are situated on Charsadda Road. Moreover, a large number of cars and rickshaws were damaged as trees and billboards fell on them.

On Monday morning, a building collapsed in Nasirpur Fruit market, leaving one person dead and nine others injured. In a separate incident, two people were injured when a wall collapsed in Yakatoot area.

In Charsadda, power transmission lines were damaged by the rain and many parts of the city had no power supply. Crops were totally destroyed in Shabqadar and a large number of huts were destroyed in picnic spots in Sardaryab after a fire broke out.

Extent of damage

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Spokesperson Latifur Rehman said he has visited the affected areas but refused to provide a detailed assessment on the extent of the damage.

“We have set up a team to assess the level of damage to infrastructure. Once they have completed their assessment, we will be in a better position to comment on this matter.”

Heavy rains dealt a heavy blow to marble industries in Shabqadar, Charsadda as industrial sheds were destroyed along with power transmission lines and machinery.

Shabqadar Marble Association President Shakir Khan Mohmand said at least 60 marble factories have suffered damages worth millions of rupees. “It will take months to undo the damage and many labourers will be affected,” he added.

Care packages

As the death toll in rain-related incidents rose to 45, the district administration of Peshawar has taken a series of initiatives to provide relief to the affected population.   Speaking to journalists at the DC’s office on Monday, deputy commissioner’s public relations officer, Feroz Shah, said the administration has distributed care packages and tents among affected families.

“At least 50 trucks carrying food supplies and tents have been sent to the affected areas under the supervision of Additional Deputy Commissioner Usman Ahmad Waraich,” he said. “They have been distributed among victims in Wadpaga, Badho Sumar Bagh, Pakha Ghulam, Wahid Ghari, Haryana Payan, Miangujar, Kohat Road, Ahmad Khel, Duranpur and Budhni areas.”

Humayun, a girdawar, told The Express Tribune, 500 tents, 500 food kits, 100 blankets along with food supplies were distributed among the affected people on Monday.

“During the first phase, the families of those who lost their lives will be compensated,” he said. “In the second phase, the injured will be compensated. However, in the third phase, people whose houses were damaged or whose crops were destroyed will be compensated, after a detailed damage assessment.

During a news conference at the Civil Secretariat on Monday, Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani said teams from the finance department are estimating the losses.

Ghani said Rs100 million has been given to the district administration along with 1,000 tents, 2,000 blankets, 1,000 hygiene kits, food items and kitchenware which are to be distributed among the affected people.

“The Peshawar DC currently has relief funds worth Rs13 million and if needed the provincial government will provide more money,” he added.

Red alert     

According to the PDMA spokesperson, red alerts have been issued to district administrations at Malakand and Hazara divisions after forecasts were received about heavy rain.

“All staff leaves have been cancelled and we are in contact with all district offices of PDMA and district administration who are running rescue and relief operations,” said Rehman.

Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Bilal Faizi told The Express Tribune, their teams, assisted by two Pakistan Army platoons, have conducted rescue operations.

“The army personnel helped us pump out rainwater from buildings in six areas,” he added.

Criticism

Pakistan Peoples Party K-P President Khanzada Khan lashed out at the provincial government for failing to provide relief and assistance to the people affected by the storm.

“The K-P government was informed about the weather prediction by the meteorological department officials three days earlier but no one paid attention to the warnings of sudden downpour and storm, and hence no measures were taken,” claimed Khanzada at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Monday. “We do not want to criticise any party but if we look at the reality we will see no efforts are being taken by the government to help the affected people.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2015.