Risky weather: Eight die in roof collapse incidents across K-P, FATA

Imran Khan postpones trip to Gilgit; gives telephonic address instead

CHITRAL/ GILGIT/ HANGU/ PESHAWAR:

At least eight people died in separate roof collapse incidents as a fresh spell of rain, thunder and hailstorms lashed the province and the tribal belt on Sunday.

According to officials of a control room established at the deputy commissioner’s office in Chitral, five members of a family perished when lightning struck a house in Porait Gol in Chitral. The roof of the house caved in and the family was trapped under the rubble.

Residents rushed to rescue them but only found their remains. Four of the deceased have been identified as Dilawar Khan, Khan Bibi, Fazal Rahim and Israr Khan.

In Hossa Mela area of Orakzai Agency, a woman and two children died when their roof caved in during heavy rain and hailstorm.

According to official of the political administration, the roof of the house of Qadir Khan collapsed, leaving his wife, seven-year-old daughter and niece dead. Locals dug out their bodies from under the rubble.

The new spell of torrential rain has dealt a critical blow to residents and farmers. Heavy showers and hail in Darra Adam Khel damaged property and crops.
On a rainy day

According to Met department officials, they recorded 21mm rainfall in Malam Jabba, 4.6mm in Darosh, 1.4mm in Chitral and 1mm in Dir.

“A western disturbance has caused the recent spell which is expected to continue in K-P for the next 24 hours,” said Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Regional Director for Peshawar Mushtaq Shah.

“Such weather conditions are fairly normal in May in this part of the country. The rains will continue till Monday afternoon in various parts of K-P.”

However, other PMD officials said the new weather system is likely to persist in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa until Wednesday, causing sporadic rain accompanied with hail and thunderstorm.

Imran delays Gilgit visit

The prevailing weather conditions also resulted in the cancellation of flights to Gilgit-Baltistan. This prevented Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan from making a planned trip to Gilgit on Sunday. However, he made a telephonic address later in the day.

Imran was scheduled to address public rallies in Ghizer Valley and Gilgit to campaign for the legislative assembly elections in the region scheduled for June 8.

Earlier in the day, PTI workers said Imran, Reham Khan, Jehangir Tareen, among others were planning to charter a private plane to the region on Sunday. However, Civil Aviation Authority did not allow the plane to take off owing to harsh weather conditions.

The PTI chief plans to defer his trip and was making arrangements to fly out on another date. However, later in the day, Imran made a telephonic address to the people of the region, saying he would change their destiny if voted into power.

"Deprivation will be addressed on a priority-basis," he said. “Reforms will be introduced in the police department to bring peace to the region. He asked people to vote for his party so the vision of a better Pakistan can be realised.

A day earlier, PTI sent Ghulam Sarwar Khan to Gilgit to kick-start the campaign for the party.

Addressing a news conference on Saturday, Ghulam Sarwar flayed Interim Chief Minister Sher Jehan Mir for accepting his position.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2015.