17 killed in rain related incidents F.P. Report

Frontier Post - PESHAWAR: At least 17 people, including five members of a family and two security officials, were killed and four others injured in four separate rain related incidents on Wednesday. At least five people of same family were killed when roof of their house collapsed due to torrential rains in North Waziristan Agency, official sources said. In another incident, at least two security officials were electrocuted to death and two others injured in Jag Malai area of NWA, security sources said. In another incident of roof collapse, two children were killed in Karak city. Heavy rains also wreaked havoc with the lives of the residents in Risalpur as water flowed on the roads and entered the houses. Because sewerage system is defective in the city, the water turned into pools. Many people in the city and those living in the areas around the city were using buckets and empty containers of ghee etc to throw water out of their homes. In Dera Ismail Khan another child was killed and two others injured when a roof of a house caved in. According to reports floods have inundated vast areas in the rural areas Mathra, Pir Bala, Spair Sang and Kafoor Dheri and Katozai areas of the district Charsadda. The flash of water has washed away standing crops and damaged mud houses in different areas of the province. In the provincial metropolis the roads were presenting a look of pool of water and motorists and pedestrians were facing difficulties in movement. The busy Sher Shah Soori Road connected City with Cantonment was closed after falling of a tree. In District Tank northern parts inundated by flood water, while in District Lakki Marwat flood is reported in Kurram and Gambela rivers resulting in 7 houses fully and 116 houses partially damaged. Old Jail premises also inundated and the prisoners shifted to safer places in Lakki Marwat. Similarly in District Mansehra Naran road blocked, Malakandi, Sangarh and Ganol area affected by land sliding, Sumallihai Mung road washed away, khasarai area under heavy flood and three bridges/culverts washed away due to heavy rainfall. In district Peshawar, Nasir Bagh, Regi, Pir Bala, Shahi Bala etc up to Warsak road and Budani Charsada Road areas are under flooding, Ariyana and Mathra areas are also under flooding. Army mobile and District field formation are busy in evacuation and rescue of the affectees from flood zone. In District Bannu, Kurram River under flooding and Bharan Dam Head Works gate washed away. In Karak, gas pipe line damaged and water supply system washed away by flood water. In district Mardan a Deeni Madrasa at Takht Bhai caved in while in district Swat, river Swat in high flood from Bahrain to Landaki, high flood near Ayub bridge overflowing protection wall and entering Police Lines. However, Kanju bridge is open for traffic. In Matta village Kawray and Shakardara affected. Emergency declared in hospitals and emergency control room has been established in Headquarter. Main Mingora Peshawar road is open for traffic. Police, revenue and other departments directed to remain alert. Flood is also reported around Ningwalai, Chota Kalam, Ghwarja, Jalwanan and Imam Dheri. All the low-lying areas in Balochistan's industrial areas namely Hub and Gadani have been submerged under water whereas drains, meant for rainwater, have been flooded. A news channel reported on Wednesday that incessant downpours have largely affected traffic on RCD Road, which links Quetta to Karachi. At least two persons have died of electricity shocks due to rain in Karachi, police said. Electricity failure has been reported in many parts in Hyderabad following spree of intermittent rains while low-lying areas are in flood. The spate of monsoon rains is also continuing in Badin, Dadu, Golarchi, Matli, Tandobago, Talhar and in all the rural and urban areas located in upper Sindh. Rains have also left electricity system suspended in Jamshoro district. Heavy rains also affected the daily life in Mirpur. There are also reports of uprooting of trees, hoardings and electricity poles at several places in Mirpur city and adjoining areas because of the wind storm which lasted for over an hour. Several kacha houses were affected as well. Continuous rain in Chitral Valley turned into flood with different watercourses (nullah) causing havoc by creating problems for the villagers. The streams first erupted in Karimabad valley where it flashed away some five bridges, creating great hardship for the people of the valley. According to SHO police station Shughoor flood came during midnight of Tuesday and Wednesday as a result some four to five bridges were badly damaged by flash flood. He said that main Garamchishma and Tehsil Lutkoh tehsil road was blocked by heavy flood at Shughoor. Road blocked for all type of vehicular traffic and there was no traffic on Garamchishma road. Besides main Booni road was also blocked at Ziat village as the traffic suspended between Mastuj tehsil and Chitral. Moreover main Peshawar Chitral road was also blocked at Ziarat village and there is no traffic between Peshawar-Chitral. Hence no human loss has been reported. The main Peshawar road was also blocked at Mina Khwar Dir side and National Highway Authority (NHA) staff has started their rescue activities to clear the road to restore traffic between Peshawar and Chitral. Project Director of Lawari Tunnel Liaqat Ali said that debris was removed at Ziarat and road was opened from Chitral side hence he said that NHA workers are trying to remove debris at Mirgah and Mina Khwar to restore traffic between Chitral and Peshawar. Meanwhile, it could not beascertained that either any human loss or casualty occurred due to flood. Fazal Khan, Chairman PPP of Union Council Shughor said that due to heavy flood pipeline of water supply scheme to this area and water channel of a local hydro power station was also damaged by flash flood. Road is completely blocked and people of the area walking by feet hence their lives in great danger because of lands sliding from nearby mountains on the road side and falling of debris. Meanwhile three persons were feared drowned while hundreds of houses collapsed as torrential flood-water hit Tank district early in the morning. Over 200 houses collapsed in Gulimam, Amak Khel, Warooki, Deri Abakhel, Rodikhel, Kot Allah Dad, Dial Pathan Kot, Chesan Kach, Kiri Marwati, Kiri Itwari, Kiri Ahmad Shah, Bara Khel, Waruki besides several localities of city including Qutab Colony, S, Sabir Abad, Razaq Colony, Faizullah Colony, Mohallah Shaikhanwala. Reportedly two minor children were swept away while a person is also said to be drowned in floodwater. The swirling floodwater entered the city and its close localities at around 06:00 am as a result of which scores of families displaced.