PESHAWAR: Widespread rain in Peshawar on Sunday caused high flood in Budhni Nullah which inundated several residential colonies along its banks as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is bracing for more monsoon rains.

Three children were killed in Peshawar and eight people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Officials said that a girl lost her life when she slipped into the nullah while playing. A child Dilawar Khan of Bahadur Kandi Marozai was killed in house collapse while Irfan of Madina Colony drowned in floodwater, they said.

The Rescue 1122 and volunteers of relief bodies evacuated around 300 people from vulnerable places following high flood in the nullah that passes through thickly populated localities of the provincial capital.

A large number of panic-gripped residents evacuated their houses along the bank of Budhni Nullah for safer places.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said that the ongoing monsoon spell might generate flash and urban flooding. It directed all divisional commissioners to take precautionary measures to cope with any eventuality. High alert has been issued to commissioners of Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan.

Heavy rain paralyses life in several districts

Latifur Rehman, spokesperson for PDMA, said that 60 families had been evacuated from Sardar Garhi and 20 families from Miskeenabad locality after floodwater entered their houses. He said that the dislocated families were accommodated in government-run schools and food packets were being provided to them.

The government cancelled off days and holidays of the staff associated with Rescue 1122 and other departments concerned while emergency has been declared in the city’s main hospitals. Met office said that 30 millimeter rain was recorded in provincial capital on Sunday.

The heavy downpour, which started early in the morning, paralysed life in the city and its surrounding areas. Rainwater submerged roads and streets and also inundated houses and commercial properties. People shifted their belongings from ground floor to the upper portions of their houses.

Torrential rain caused high flood in Budhni Nullah and PDMA said that 15,000 cusecs water was recorded when it was at peak. The road between Peshawar and Charsadda remained closed to traffic due to flood in the nullah.

Met office said that Cherat in Nowshera district received 119 millimeter rain on Sunday which was the highest, followed by Risalpur with 70mm. Kohat received 54mm rain. An official said that all rivers and streams were flowing in normal condition.

In Shangla, four tourists including a woman were killed as their car plunged into hundreds feet deep Khan Khwar River.

They were coming from Swat to Bisham. When they reached near Khan Khwar Dam, a deluge in a nullah swept away their car and plunged it into the Khan Khwar River. Body of Moheed Iqbal of Haripur was fished out while search for three others was underway.

Also, a youth drowned while two others were rescued when gushing water of the Indus River swept them away. They were catching wood logs in the river in Bisham.

Seven houses, built on the bank of river in Mira and Orshnag areas, were washed away by the floodwater.

In Khyber Agency, seven houses were partially damaged when their boundary walls were washed away by floodwater. The Landi Kotal-Jamrud Road also remained closed to traffic for one hour due to flood in the streams.

In Mansehra, a woman was reportedly swept away by floodwater in Ichrian area. Search for her body was underway.

In Oghi, the entire bazaar was inundated by water due to flood in Saror Nullah. The traders suffered huge losses. The water also damaged six houses in the bazaar.

In Kohistan, the monsoon rain destroyed dozens of houses. The floodwater inundated the villages of Suo, Dirgutto, Chardong areas and washed away dozens of houses. In Kohat, water entered dozens of houses whereas three houses collapsed in Tappi area on Sunday.

A young girl was killed and three others people were injured in rain-related incidents in the district. More than 25 houses were damaged and Kohat Toi (stream) was in flood. The water also entered houses in Hafizabad area.

In Nowshera, a child was washed away by floodwater in Dag Ismail Khel area as heavy rain hit the district.

Sanan Khan son of Wali Jan was crossing an overflowing nullah when the gushing water swept him away. His body was yet to be recovered. The heavy downpour also damaged standing crops in Zakhel, Nowshera Kalan, Pir Sabaq and other localities.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2015

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