Rains, snow and storms kill 20 across Pakistan

Heavy rains on Tuesday lashed across the country, killing over two dozen people and injuring several others in rain-related incidents.
At least 18 persons were killed and more than 50 others were injured in various areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The rains and scattered snowfall also inflicted heavy logistic losses, badly affecting routine life throughout the province. All flights of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) between Peshawar and Chitral were cancelled, while flights from Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport to other cities and countries were also affected.
According to details, the roof of a house collapsed in Peshawar’s Pakha Ghulam area on Dalazak Road, burying several members of a family. Eight of them were rescued while two children were killed. The eight injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital.
Elsewhere in Nowshehra, at least three persons were killed and six others were injured when two houses collapsed due to rain.
According to reports from Swabi, a mud house in the Afghan refugees’ camp at Gandaf Gadoon was razed to the ground, burying all 10 of a family. An official said that two of them had died while eight others were injured. The condition of the injured is stated critical. One person was killed in Charsadda and two others were injured when a mud house was razed to the ground.
Officials said that a landslide hit a house in Shangla district, killing at least three and injuring two others. In Haripur, more than 40 mud houses in the Afghan refugees’ camp were washed away by rainwater. An official said that two persons were killed, and efforts underway for the recovery of four others, including two women and two children. Two persons were killed in Buner and one each in Mardan and Lakki Marwat districts. Reports say that three persons were killed and four others were injured when houses at two different places collapsed in Karak district.
As the rains disrupted the communication system, reports regarding casualties and property losses from Mansehra, Kohistan, Chitral, Upper Dir and several other mountainous regions have not been received so far. Officials have however confirmed heavy rains and snow throughout the northern mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PUNJAB:
Two persons have been killed and several others sustained injuries in rain-related incidents that took place in various parts of Punjab.
According to TV reports, two people were killed when the roof of their house collapsed in Darmaywala area of Dipalpur. In the second incident, nine persons, including two children, were injured when the roof of their houses located in the vicinity of Jaswand Nagar of Khanewal district and Shah Kot area, suddenly caved in.

QUETTA:
A man was killed when lightning struck in Jawa’ay Gandan area of Sorab tehsil, Kalat district on Monday night.
In Zhob, two persons were killed when an avalanche triggered due to continuous rain struck them in the mountainous area of Mandayzai. Levies said that rain continued in Zob on third consecutive day.

SNOW:
Heavy snowfall has led to closure of all link roads in Galliyat, Murree and upper parts of Kashmir, adding to the miseries of the commuters. The residents of these areas have been kept indoors due to inclement weather.
Hilly areas have gone clad with white canopy of snow. Malam Jabba received 3.5 feet snow, Kalam, 3 feet and Murree 8 inches. Snowfall continued on the second consecutive day in Skardu. The key highways leading to Muzaffarabad, Rawala Kot and Punjab were closed due to land sliding.

RAIN:
As per Met office, 15 millimetres rain was recorded in Dipalpur during the last 12 hours, 47mm in Islamabad, 43mm in Kakul, 40mm in Garhi Dupatta and 35mm in Para Chinar and Balakot. The low lying areas of Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan, were submerged in the rainy water.
Cherat crossed the ever-highest record of 148mm rain. Saidu Sharif received 138mm rain, Risalpur, 136mm, Lower Dir 107mm, Rawala Kot, 95mm, Islamabad, 69mm, and Mianwali 51mm.
Met Office said that Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Peshawar, Kohat and Malakand are likely to receive rainfall in the next 12 hours while the hilly areas may be hit by the snowfall.