Rain triggers flooding in parts of Peshawar as rescue teams evacuate residents

PESHAWAR/LAHORE: Rescue teams moved several residents to safety after heavy rain caused flooding in parts of Peshawar on Tuesday, while strong showers also affected multiple areas of Punjab.

The ongoing spell of rain over recent days has resulted in several deaths in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Balochistan.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi said at least 65 people were evacuated from Peshawar’s Sardar Colony on Tuesday after flooding in Budhni nullah during a heavy afternoon downpour. He said the water level in the nullah had risen and water had entered Sardar Colony.

A flood alert posted on the Irrigation Department’s X account at around 3:30pm said discharge in Budhni nullah had climbed to 13,035 cusecs and that the stream was in high flood.

Later in the evening, Rescue 1122 said in a statement that District Emergency Officer Iftikhar Khan was supervising de-watering work that had been continuing since the previous night in Shaheen Housing Society, Warsak Road, Budhni Bridge, Sardar Colony, Board Bazaar, Bara Bridge and other parts of Peshawar.

The statement added that rainwater had entered homes and neighbourhoods in the city’s Sardar Garhi area, where rescue personnel evacuated more than 70 people.

Provincial response

A statement issued by the office of KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said he had directed the relevant authorities to take precautionary steps in view of heavy rainfall across the province.

According to the statement, the chief minister said all concerned departments were on high alert and were making sure precautionary measures were in place. He also said the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Rescue 1122 and district administrations were responding immediately to complaints and were prepared to carry out relief operations.

“The district administration is continuously monitoring vulnerable and low-lying areas. The protection of human lives is the top priority and no negligence will be tolerated in this regard”, it stated.

The statement also said the chief minister urged citizens to adopt precautionary measures and to immediately inform the district administration of any untoward incident.

“The government is continuously monitoring the situation and taking all possible steps”, it added.

Rain reported in other areas

The Met Office said rain was also recorded in Parachinar, Cherat, Dera Ismail Khan, Dir, Drosh, Bannu and Saidu Sharif.

In Punjab, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority said several areas received rain on Monday and Tuesday, including Faisalabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Murree, Minawali, Kot Addu, Attock, Rahim Yar Khan, Rawalpindi and Multan.

In Lahore, where rain continued from morning until evening, the Water and Sanitation Agency remained on high alert on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, according to a Wasa statement.

The statement said Wasa’s vice chairperson, director general and managing director instructed officials to keep all major roads and underpasses clear for traffic, ensure field teams remained active, keep pumps at disposal stations operational, and have town directors monitor the situation in their respective areas.