MARDAN/PESHAWAR: With the rain lashing different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two children were killed and three people, including a woman, were injured in Mardan district in separate incidents on Wednesday.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a warning of flooding in Budhni nullah of Peshawar and Kalpani nullah of Mardan and glacial lake outburst floods in Chitral region during the current monsoon spell.

The Rescue 1122 officials in Mardan said four-year-old Adnan and four-month-old Nosheen died and another child suffered injured after the roof of their house collapsed in Bijligar locality of Katlang tehsil.

They also said the collapse of a wall in Iteffaq Colony of Jalala area in Takht Bhai tehsil caused critical injuries to a woman, while Abdur Rehman, 22, was injured when the roof of his house in Muhabatabad area caved in.

The Rescue 1122 officials said the rainwater inundated different areas, including Takkar, Ganjay and Shamsi Road, and caused traffic jams.

Road closures, power outages reported in many areas

In Lower Dir district, traffic on the main Timergara-Peshawar Road remained suspended for around three hours in Talash area due to the flooding of a stream causing misery to motorists. Several link roads in parts of the district were blocked due to landslides and flooding of streams.

Battagram district suffered prolonged power cuts in the aftermath of heavy downpour which hit the district earlier during the day.

The rain coupled with gusty winds lashed Ajmera, Chappargram, Maidan, Battagram and areas of Allai tehsil.

The downpour led to the suspension of power supply in the district.

The residents complained about the suspension of electric supply on Battagram Line-II for more than three days to the misery of the residents of Deshan, Shingli Payen, Shingli Bala, Kotgala and adjoining villages.

They said they repeatedly visited the offices of Wapda and district administration to demand an end to the unscheduled power outages in the area, but to no avail.

The torrential rain inundated low-lying areas in Swabi district and flooded drains and roads in different parts.A poultry farm in Baja Bamkhel area collapsed during rain killing 3,000 chickens.

Traffic on Tarbela-Topi Road remained suspended for hours due to high flood in Topi nullah forcing motorists and commuters to wait for long hours to move on. Electric supply to several areas remained suspended for hours.

The Met Department forecast widespread rains with thunderstorm and gusty winds on Thursday for Abbottabad, Haripur,Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Swat, Lower and Upper Dir, Bajaur, Malakand, Mardan, Swabi and scattered places in Chitral, Nowshera, Peshawar, Charsadda, Mohmand, Khyber, Kohat,Hangu, Karak, Kurram, Orakzai, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, andNorthand South Waziristandistricts.

According to it, Takht Bhai area of Mardan district received the highest amount of rain (88 millimeters) and Timergarah 28mm on Wednesday. Drosh recorded the highest temperature of 40 degrees Celsius in the province.

In an advisory issued to districts, the PDMA said the surging water in Kalpani nullah of Mardan and Budhni nullah of Peshawar due to downpour could cause flooding.

It added that upper parts of the province could be hit by landslides, so tourists should take precautionary measures while travelling in those areas.

The PMDA said the Glof incidents could take place in parts of Upper and Lower Chitral districts in the next two weeks, so the relevant authorities should take necessary measures to minimise damage to public life and property.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2021