A powerful storm, accompanied by heavy rain and high winds, has left at least two people dead and 15 others injured across Punjab, Express News reported on Tuesday.
According to Rescue Punjab spokesperson Farooq Ahmad, one person lost his life, and 11 others were injured due to the storm and rain. The injured included two children in Rawalpindi, who were hurt when an object fell from a roof, and another individual who fell from a ladder.
Separately, in a tragic incident in the town of Kala Bagh, Mianwali, a man was struck and killed by a lightning strike. Rescue teams rushed to the scene to provide immediate assistance. The wall of a police station collapsed due to strong winds, causing minor injuries to one person, while a solar panel also fall, injuring a person.
In another incident, a 22-year-old woman was injured when a mud house collapsed in Attock. Ahmad reported that in Gujranwala, a young girl fell from a roof after high winds dislodged objects.
Similar incidents were reported in Multan where a solar panel fell from a roof, causing injuries to another individual. In Multan’s Hassan Chowk area, a wall collapse led to another injury.
In Muzaffargarh, strong winds brought down a tree branch on a passerby, injuring him. In Dera Ghazi Khan, a woman was hurt when a wall collapsed, while in Murree, a tree was uprooted by the storm.
Rescue teams have successfully transported the injured to local hospitals for treatment. Ahmad urged citizens to dial Rescue 1122 in case of emergencies, highlighting the ongoing efforts to assist those affected by the severe weather.
Storm, heavy rainfall cause destruction across Peshawar
Meanwhile, torrential rain and strong winds, wreaked havoc across Peshawar, leaving widespread damage in its wake.
Trees were uprooted, signboards collapsed, and roofs caved in, resulting in three people being trapped under debris. Prompt rescue efforts ensured that all three victims were safely extricated, and no fatalities were reported.
In the Hayatabad area, solar panels installed on homes were torn off, and the roof of the Hayatabad Sports Complex, made of fibre sheets, was completely destroyed. Additionally, falling signboards led to the destruction of two taxi cabs.
Passenger taxis were parked on the road in Peshawar when the strong winds, ahead of the rainstorm, brought down signboards onto the vehicles.
The storm also caused significant damage in the Industrial Estate area, with power poles being uprooted and main transmission lines affected. This caused widespread power outages, severely disrupting the electricity system in Hayatabad and nearby areas.
Flooding ensued as water filled drains near Hayatabad on the Ring Road, creating a hazardous situation. In the Dabgari area, near the Lady Griffith School, the road was submerged, leading to severe traffic disruptions. Long queues of vehicles formed as a result.
At the Lady Reading Hospital, water accumulated near the hostel gate, further contributing to traffic gridlock.
On the other hand, in the Matni area, a dhaba hotel’s roof collapsed, trapping three individuals under the debris. Rescue teams swiftly carried out operations and freed the victims. On Charsadda Road, Salt Mandi, and Kohat Road, trees were uprooted but no casualties were reported.
Read More: Rain forecast issued for northern Pakistan as new weather system approaches
Earlier, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had issued a weather advisory predicting windstorms and rain-thunderstorms across the upper and central regions of the country from May 27 to 31, with intermittent breaks.
According to the PMD, moist currents were consistently advancing into the upper and central areas, and a westerly wave was expected to reach the northern regions on May 28.
As a result, windstorms, rain, and isolated heavy showers, potentially accompanied by hailstorms, were expected in several areas, including Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Swat, and various districts of Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
The advisory further warned that windstorms, dust-thunderstorms, hail, and lightning could cause damage to vulnerable structures, including power poles, trees, vehicles, and solar panels.
Also Read: At least 13 dead, 92 injured as rain wreaks havoc in Punjab
Last week, severe thunderstorms across Punjab had killed at least 13 people and injured 92 others, the powerful storm system triggered multiple weather-related incidents across the province.
Fatalities were reported in several districts including Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, and Sialkot, the PDMA confirmed.
Most casualties occurred due to the collapse of dilapidated buildings or people being present in unsafe locations during the storm, the agency said. Several mud-brick and poorly constructed homes sustained significant damage.
