PESHAWAR: At least three people were killed and 10 suffered injuries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata on Saturday as heavy rains caused roof collapses.

Weather pundits forecast more showers during the next 24 hours in the province and adjoining tribal areas. Rains lashed a large part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata bringing life to a standstill.

Some hilly areas received moderate snowfall, which brought the mercury level down to the freezing point.

Life comes to a standstill in northwestern parts of the country

In Odigram area of Mingora, two people were killed and two others injured when the roof of a house collapsed early on Saturday.

According to the police, the family of Syed Karim in Bahrain area buried alive under debris when the roof of their mud house caved in due to heavy rains.

Besides recovering two bodies, the local residents also rescued two injured people, who were shifted to a nearby hospital.

Among the deceased were four-year-old Ayesha and 40-year-old Mian Jan.

The mountainous areas of Swat received sporadic snowfall after a one-day break. The rains and snowfall disrupted life in the valley.

In Gandao area of Karak district, six members of a family suffered injuries when the roof of a room of their house collapsed.

The people pulled the injured from under the debris and shifted them to the District Headquarters Hospital Karak.

The injured included Rehman Gul, wife Muhtaj Begum and minor children Saadia Gul, Neelam, Bukhtiara Bibi and Bilawal.

Doctors at the District Headquarters Hospital referred Muhtaj Bibi to a major hospital in Peshawar due to precarious condition.

Also, wall collapses due to heavy rains were reported in some parts of Karak district, including Zebi Channikhel, Shanki Banda, Anar Banda, Bahaderkhel, Zalani Banda, Gurguri Eidal Khel and Makh Banda.

In Charsadda, a five-year-old girl died after the roof of her house collapsed in Saro Kalay area.

Peshawar, too, received heavy rains in the day.

The rain began in the morning and continued for many hours bringing life to a standstill in many areas.

The rainwater accumulated on roads and streets making them impassable.

Traffic jams were reported on Jamrud Road, Charsadda Road and Hayatabad streets inundated due to clogged drains.

Kohati Chowk, Nishterabad and adjoining localities of Peshawar were the worst affected by heavy rains.

Officials of Rescue 1122 said they received calls from slum and low-lying areas for clearing out the blockage in drains.

They said residents of Sohailabad near Ring Road and Miskeenabad in Nothia called the Rescue 1122 emergency cell to dispatch pumps for removing rainwater from their houses.

The police said a building collapsed in Ashab Baba causing minor injuries to two girls.

They said the injured were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. Rainwater also entered the Pandu police station to the misery of staff.

Members of the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar staff were not seen on flooded roads and streets in many areas.

Chocked sewers contributed to the problem.

The Met Office said 43 milliliters rain was recorded in Peshawar from 7am to 5pm in the day.

It forecast cloudy weather for Sunday.

According to the Met Office, Cherat received 30mm, Timergara 25, Bannu 18 and Parachinar 51mm rain in the day.

Light rain was reported in parts of Hazara division and Chitral.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority has already issued weather alert suggesting widespread rains along with thunderstorm and snowfall in Peshawar, Mardan, Hazara, Malakand and southern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjacent tribal areas.

Meanwhile, internally displaced persons at Jalozai Camp in Nowshera district were also adversely affected by heavy showers, which caused their tents to collapse, while rainwater entered the rest.

Also, heavy rains with snowfall over the hills were reported in Orakzai and Kurram agencies.

Residents said Parachinar, the headquarters of Kurram Agency, and its surrounding areas received more than two inches snow, while showers lashed the valley’s low-altitude areas.

Heavy snowfall was reported in high-altitude areas of Orakzai Agency causing the closure of roads in Ferozkhel, Kalaya, Sangehra, Mishti Bazaar and Dabori areas.

There were also reports of landslide in some areas of the agency.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play