PESHAWAR, March 28: A heavy downpour lashed Peshawar valley and other parts of the province on Friday, bringing a pleasant change in the weather.

The local Met office had recorded 25mm rain in the provincial metropolis and it was drizzling till the filing of this report. The rain which started at 8am brought the mercury down. The maximum temperature was recorded at 20 degrees Centigrade.

Officials said that other parts of the province including Kohat, Hangu, Nowshera, Risalpur and Haripur also received heavy rain which continued at intervals.

The residents of Railway Colony, in low-lying area, told Dawn that rainwater had entered their houses, mostly built on a sewerage line. The water inundated the busy Stadium Chowk, which caused a problem for pedestrians. A traffic gridlock developed.

The rainwater also submerged the adjacent lanes of Bacha Khan Chowk and small vegetable market. The rainwater also accumulated on the entire road leading up to Tehmas Khan Stadium.

After the anti-encroachment drive, the civic bodies did not remove debris on roadsides, which multiplied the problems of the local residents and motorists.

The rainwater also accumulated at busy Yadgar Chowk and its adjoining areas, Mochi Lara, main vegetable market and Pipal Mandi, where sewerage water submerged a vast area.