KOHAT, Jan 6: The newly-constructed office of the district police officer was gutted after fire erupted due to an electricity short circuit caused by rain here on Friday.

Officials said that as soon as the rain started fire erupted in the office of DPO Mubarik Zeb in the cantonment area that also destroyed some record. They said that a major portion of the office was gutted. However, Mr Zeb remained unhurt in the incident.

The Rescue 15 and Pesco teams visited the office and declared that the fire was caused by a short circuit.

The first winter rain also played havoc with the routine life, as power remained suspended to the whole city for about two hours due to technical faults while the dilapidated city roads turned into pools of water and mud, causing problems for vehicular traffic and pedestrians.

Hardly a month after its reconstruction the road from Hangu chowk to Shah Faisal Gate has again developed numerous potholes due to use of substandard material and absence of drainage system. Besides, work on a piece of road in front of thedistrict courts could not be started despite the court orders for its repair.

The small drains of Charsi bazaar are spewing filth for last several months, but the tehsil municipal committee is not listening to the demands of people for widening of the sewer line and removal of the encroachments on it.