Four lives lost as rain, snowfall batter KP

PESHAWAR: Rain and snowfall wreaked havoc in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the last two days, resulting in the death of four people and injuries to several others.

Heavy snowfall in parts of Malakand and Hazara divisions also blocked roads and disrupted the communication system and electricity supply. Roofs and walls caved in at various in Peshawar and other districts due to the continuous rain since Sunday.

According to the officials of the Rescue 1122 at least four people lost lives while nine others sustained injuries in roof and wall collapse incidents due to rain. The injured were taken to hospitals. Most of the wall and roof collapse incidents were reported from Swat, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Kurram, Mardan and Khyber districts.

“A woman was killed in Dir Lower while a child died in Kurram. Another person died in Swat,” an official of the Rescue 1122 said. He added several people, who were injured in rain-related incidents in Peshawar, Mardan, Swat and other places were rushed to hospitals.

By our correspondent

BARA: Two women sustained injuries when a mud-house collapsed during rains in Bara tehsil of Khyber tribal district. It was learnt that the house of one Saeedullah collapsed at night due to rain in the Akakhel area in Bara.

As a result, two women were injured and taken to hospital where their condition was said to be stable. Member of National Assembly-elect Iqbal Afridi and others reached the place and ensured the family of every possible help.

Meanwhile, several roads including Arhanga, Dwatoi and Serey Kandao were closed due to heavy snowfall in Tirah valley. The local people asked the district administration to send the machinery for removing the snow from the main roads.

ABBOTTABAD: The new spell of snowfall started in the mountainous areas including Abbottabad district since Sunday. Heavy downpour lashed Abbottabad and surrounding areas inundating streets and roads in Sikandrabad, Jab Bridge, Mandian, Link Road, PMA Road, and Kaghan Colony.

The rainfall disrupted traffic on the main Karakoram Highway passing through the Abbottabad city. The rain and thunderstorm with snow had caused closure of Abbottabad- Murree road at different points.

According to the locals, Nathiagali, Thandyani, Ayubia, Dongagali & and in Abbottabad accumulated up to six inches of snow. The Galiyat Development Authority was engaged in road clearance as well as facilitating the tourists visiting the area.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and the district administration issued alerts and activated all relevant departments to prepare for snowfall and heavy rain in Galiyat.

ALPURI: Shangla also received snowfall, which added to the problems of the local people. The snowfall disrupted electricity supply in Shangla as it damaged the transmission lines at various places. The snowfall also uprooted electricity poles and snapped the power cables in various areas.

MANSEHRA: The Kaghan valley also received heavy snowfall, which disrupted the routine life. The snowfall covered the roads and caused suspension of traffic on the roads.

SWAT: The upper parts of the Swat district also received heavy snowfall. The snowfall blanketed the mountainous region in white and the residents complained about chilly weather and power outages.