PESHAWAR: Three people, including two minor sisters, were killed and four suffered injuries in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday as houses collapsed due to heavy rains.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority said Mehnaz and her two daughters, including seven-year-old Wafa Bibi and four-year-old Madena Bibi, died when their house collapsed in Karbogha Sharif area of Hangu district before dawn.

Also, a man suffered injuries in Pandu Chowk of Peshawar when the roof of a veranda caved in due to heavy rains.

Three houses collapsed in Hangu, Peshawar and Karak.

Heavy rain turned Peshawar’s roads and streets into streams paralysing life.

Residential quarters were inundated in different parts of the provincial capital.

A house collapsed in Samer Bagh area of Lower Dir district injuring two women.

CM asks authorities to remain vigilant to protect public life and property

Motorists and commuters suffered due to water logging on main roads of Peshawar. Long queues of vehicles were seen there.

The overflowing drains turned the University Road, Grand Trunk Road, Ring Road, Kohat Road and Hayatabad and cantonment area streets into rivulets.

The main roads saw bumper-to-bumper traffic. Vehicles remained stuck in traffic jams.

The rainfall began in Peshawar before dawn and continued throughout the day.

The Met Office recorded 52 millimeters rainfall in the city, the heaviest in the recent weeks.

The sewage flooded roads and streets with the situation being worst in Hayatabad, University Road and some cantonment areas.

An official said the sewerage lanes built recently along the Bus Rapid Transit tracks were insufficient and therefore, they overflowed during heavy rain.

The rainwater and sewage submerged roads and streets.

The situation deteriorated on the University Road when rainwater accumulated under the BRT underpasses was pumped out on the main road.

The police diverted traffic to the BRT track in different areas to ease the flow of traffic.

“The newly-constructed sewerage lanes are faulty and inadequate to accommodate rainwater and sewage,” said the official.

He also said the main sewerage lanes along the Ring Road were choked, while the rainwater began to flow on the road causing traffic jam.

The Water Sanitation Services Peshawar called its staff to duty at 3am to open choked drains on the University Road and other localities.

Spokesman for WSSP Hassan Ali said the existing sewerage system didn’t have the capacity to stand heavy rainwater.

Heavy rains also lashed other parts of the province.

Malam Jabba and Cherat received 39mm rain, Lower Dir 32mm, Upper Dir 22mm, Saidu Sharif 23mm, Bannu 20mm, Bannu 18mm, Parachinar 16mm, Mirkhani 15mm, Dera Ismail Khan 13mm and Balakot 10mm.

Also, moderate snowfall was reported in parts of Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra and Kurram districts.

The PDMA said three roads were closed to traffic in Abbottabad due to bad weather.

The roads in the jurisdiction of Galiyat Development Authority were also closed. Heavy machinery reached the roads for their reopening.

Also, heavy rain and snowfall dropped the mercury in Bajaur tribal district.

The residents said the rain in plains and snow on mountains began late on Sunday and continued all through Monday.

They said the inclement weather forced them to stay indoors besides causing suspension of electric supply in most parts of the district.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan directed the relevant authorities to remain vigilant to protect public life and property during the rainy season, reported APP.

In a statement issued here, the chief minister also ordered the immediate clearing of the calamity-hit roads and clearing of choked drains.

He said the relief departments, Rescue 1122 and other related departments should be on a high alert for meeting any emergency without delay, while the damages caused by rains should be properly assessed for speedy provision of relief to the affected people.

Mr Mahmood also said hospitals and other health facilities should take appropriate measures to provide quality services to the people injured by natural calamities.

“The early redressal of the people’s grievances is the prime responsibility of the departments concerned,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2019