Peshawar:
A Torrential Rain period on Monday transformed Peshawar into a city full of water, flooding roads, markets and residential areas while disturbing public transport and daily life.
The linger, recorded at 52 millimeters by the meteorological department, lasted two hours and submerged key arteries, notably Saddar Road, Kohat Road, University Road, Ashraf Road and Charsadda Road.
The markets of Pipal Mandi, Qissa Khwani, Kohati and Shafi Market were seriously affected while flood water entered stores, damaging the goods worth millions. In Jahangirpura, several Peshawari Chappal points of sale were also flooded.
Overwhelming drains have aggravated the situation, pushing dirty waters in stores and houses. Residents and merchants spent hours draining the water themselves, because the municipal response remained absent. At noon, the city center, including Namak Mandi, Ghanta Ghar, Chowk Yadgar, Pipal Mandi and the adjacent areas, looked like a lagoon.
The supply of electricity collapsed in many regions of the city, plunging entire neighborhoods in the dark for hours. Panic spread among residents living near the channels and streams while the rise of water forced several families in Budhni, Warsak and the belts of the Kabul river to evacuate towards safer places.
The City Rapid Transit (BRT) service has also arrived at the stop. Several buses were blocked on flooded tracks in Hayatabad, Kohat Road and Charsadda Road. Several BRT stations, including Peshawar Cantt and University Road, have been overwhelmed, causing serious disadvantages to commuters.
Private transport was also disrupted, while the main shopping centers have remained closed due to floods. Residents criticized the bad drainage system, saying that “the city of flowers has turned into a dirt city in the minutes after precipitation”. Normal life in Peshawar remains seriously affected while the authorities find it difficult to restore order in the aftermath of the showers.
