PESHAWAR, Feb 22: Continuous light rain during the last two days exposed the performance of civic agencies as the residents of the city faced a number of problems due to choked drains and standing rain-water on roads and in the streets at most places.

The city and its suburbs received 27mm rain on Friday, while that recorded by the Met office on Thursday was 17.5mm, with more forecast of rainy and cloudy weather during the coming 24 hours.

The light rain, which started early on Thursday morning, swept larger parts of the Frontier province non-stop, bringing a pleasant change in the weather and heralding the beginning of spring. The mercury level, which had shot up in the face of dry weather, came down. The maximum temperature on Friday remained 12.5 degrees Celsius. Humidity in the air was 100 per cent, Met officials said.

Almost all major cities and towns of the province — Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Charsadda and Malakand Division — and the adjoining tribal agencies, received widespread rains.

Standing rain-water in different busy squares, on main roads and in the bustling streets dampened the festive mood of the people giving final touches to the preparations for slaughtering animals to solemnize the Eidul Azha celebrations.

The situation along the Kohat Road was particularly bad as the rain-water submerged the road and footpaths in front of the Civil Colony and near the busy Bhana Mari Chowk, making it hard for the pedestrians to move about.

At the Kohati Gate Chowk, the people faced a more miserable condition as they had to wade through ankle-deep water to get across the road in the face of whirring rickshaws, splashing water around.

The situation arising out of the continuous downpour and the standing water was not much different at the Lahori Gate, Gulbahar Chowk, Bilal Town, Shaheen Muslim Town and Phandoo Road. The rain-water had submerged the sidewalks and the people had to take up the responsibility to beware the pedestrians from walking into any open manhole in these areas. Most of manhole lids are missing, courtesy the ever-increasing number of addicts in the city.

The busiest Rehman Baba square in front of the Radio Pakistan presented a sorry picture of the performance and dereliction of the officials of the civic agencies responsible for the drainage and sewerage system of the city. The road had been totally submerged and the motorists found it extremely difficult to drive through the deep water. Some had to face the bad luck of ceased engines in the water.

The Ring Road flyover on Kohat Road was also sunk in the water due to poor sewerage line.

A number of people have urged the Peshawar city district council authorities to carry out a survey of the city streets and roads while it is raining, or if not possible, soon after the rain to apprise themselves of the problems of the people.

The residents also appealed to the higher authorities to look into the poor and insufficient drainage and sewerage system of the city.

The light rains continued till our going to the press.