PESHAWAR: Heavy rainfall in Peshawar and its adjoining areas on Saturday caused urban flooding as stormwater drains overflowed, inundating several neighbourhoods.
Rescue teams used boats to evacuate at least 300 people to safer locations, officials said.
According to reports, water from swollen streams and drains entered residential areas in Regi Lalma, Budhni, Hasan Garhi, Sardar Garhi, Warsak Road and adjoining localities.
In low-lying areas, residents shifted their belongings to higher ground after Budhni Nullah rose to dangerous levels.
Rescue officials said that people trapped inside houses in Regi and Warsak Road areas were evacuated with boats, while operations also continued in Khyber district.
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Waterlogging was reported in Kohati, Khyber Bazaar, Jehangirpura, Nishtarabad and Gulbahar.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur directed the district administration, PDMA and Rescue 1122 officials to reach affected areas immediately and personally supervise rescue and relief efforts.
Acting on his instructions, senior officials monitored ongoing operations alongside rescue teams.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority’s Urban Flooding Unit also launched timely dewatering operations in flooded neighbourhoods.
Authorities confirmed that large volumes of water were cleared from Shaheen Colony, Safia Town, Regi Bala, Budhni Bridge and other parts of Peshawar.
Announcements were made in mosques to warn residents against going near streams, while families in vulnerable settlements near Budhni Nullah and Darmangi were shifted to safer locations.
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No casualties from urban flooding were reported, though the collapse of a house roof in Peshawar due to heavy rain killed a child and injured three others.
Rescue teams rushed the injured to hospital.
Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, along with the Peshawar deputy commissioner and Rescue 1122 officials, visited Budhni Nullah and other sites to review the situation.
Officials said water flow in streams and rivers was being closely monitored, precautionary advisories had been issued to residents, and relief teams remained on high alert.