PESHAWAR: Nine people, including four FC personnel, were killed and seven suffered injuries as a security checkpost and houses collapsed in parts of the province and Mohmand Agency as rains lashed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining tribal areas on Sunday and Monday.

Officials said four FC personnel were killed and three suffered injuries when their checkpost collapsed in Jani Khwar area of Matani on the outskirts of Peshawar on Monday night.

The deceased included soldiers Amjad Ali, Tahzeb Ali, Abid Ali and Mawad Ali, while the injured were Hawaldar Shakir Ali and sepoys Rajman Ali and Gulfam Ali.

Two people buried alive under the debris and a child was injured when the roof of their house collapsed in Malanagad area of Kohat district on Monday night.

Met Office forecasts more showers in next 24 hours

The police said the veranda of Mohammad Zaman’s mud-house caved in when children were feeding livestock.

Volunteers pulled Hafeezur Rehman and Rabia out from under the debris alive and shifted them to the KDA Divisional Hospital, where they succumbed to injuries.

Three-year-old Rehman suffered injuries.

Local residents said it was an old house, which was weakened by the continuous rains.

The house of Abdul Malik in Qandhrai Darwazgai area of Safi tehsil, Mohmand Agency, collapsed during heavy showers and thus, killing his two minor grandsons and a woman.

Abdul Malik and his other two grandsons were also injured in the incident.

Heavy rains continuing since Sunday brought down the mercury level in the plain and hilly areas.

The Met Office said the picturesque Kalam valley and Malam Jabba skiing resort received at least 12 inches snow each during the last two days.

The temperature dropped to the freezing level due to the fresh snowfall in Swat valley.

According to the Met Office, Cherat, a garrison in Nowshera district, received 74 millimeters rain followed by Risalpur with 45 millimeters rain.

Peshawar city received 31 millimeters rain, while Parachinar in Kurram Agency received 25 millimeters rain.

A total of 25 millimeters rain was reported in Saidu Sharif area of Swat district and 16 millimeters rain in Balakot area of Mansehra district.

The Met Office forecast more rain in the plain areas and moderate snow in the mountainous area of the province and Fata during the next 24 hours.

The downpour in Peshawar exposed the poor performance of the municipal authorities as drains in different localities were chocked causing rainwater to accumulate on roads and streets.

Also, the rainwater entered houses in low-lying areas of the city.

Due to the continuous rain, public transport remained off the roads, while cabbies and rickshaw drivers overcharged commuters.

The people thronged kebab and fish shops due to chilly weather.

In Bajaur Agency, students and teachers absented themselves from educational institutions on the first day of their reopening after winter vacation due to heavy showers.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2015

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