More than two dozen people, including women and children, died while scores of others sustained injuries as heavy rain and windstorm hit KP and Punjab, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Saturday.

According to Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 25 people died and another 145 sustained injuries in KP. The worst-hit areas are Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Karak, the authority reported, adding that 69 houses were partially damaged.

The Rescue 1122, district administration and other authorities concerned are carrying out relief activities and the. PDMA has released Rs40 million for the victims of Bannu district, the spokesperson said.

In Punjab, three sisters died in a rain-related incident in the Khushab area while a man was killed in Wazirabad. 

The deceased are identified as 13-year-old Sattaran Bibi, 10-year-old Manzar Batul and seven-year-old Kashf Bibi. The tragedy took place in a Noorpur Thal village where the girls took refuge from heavy rain beside a wall that collapsed.

Two deaths were reported in Wazirabad and Hafizabad in rain-related incidents. In Gujranwala district of Punjab, 10 people sustained injuries, local rescue officials said. Three workers were injured as a factory shed fell on Aimanabad Road. Roof collapses left seven people injured, the rescuers added.

The roof of a house collapsed in Bhakkar injuring five people including women and children. Rescuers took the injured to a local hospital. Dounpour and storm hit Multan, Okara, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, and Dera Ghazi Khan too. Power cuts added to public problems.

President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives. 

The premier directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to utilize the all-out resources to provide relief to the rain and storm-hit people.

According to PM Media Wing, Shehbaz urged the PML-N activists to assist the local govt and authorities concerned for provide relief to the people affected by the rain and storm.

He also sought a report on relief activities and the damage assessment in 24 hours.

Bad weather disrupted the air schedule too. Two PIA flights could not land due to bad weather in Lahore.

Flight PK 760 coming from Jeddah was diverted to Multan while PK186 coming from Sharjah was diverted to Faisalabad.

The Meteorological Department said rain with wind and thunder is expected in Upper and Central Punjab, the Potohar region, Islamabad while thunderstorms and rain are expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Kashmir.

There is also the possibility of hailstorms at a few places, the Met Office said, adding that weather in Islamabad will remain dry and hot and dusty winds are likely to blow in in the afternoon.

Abbottabad, Mansehra, Karam and Kohistan are likely to experience strong winds and thundershowers, it maintained,