20 killed, 101 wounded in different rain-related incidents in Punjab

A violent windstorm accompanied by rain wreaked havoc in Punjab on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of 20 people and injuries to 92 people, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday. 

While the national media put the death toll from the storm in Punjab at 20, the 24News TV channel confirmed that 14 people were killed in rain-related incidents. 

Four deaths were reported only from Lahore where six people were also injured as strong winds blew away billboards and caused damage to people’s properties.    

According to rescue officials, six storm-related incidents were reported in Lahore.

Two labourers were injured when the roof of an under-construction house caved in in Park View City near Chuhng. Rescue personnel shifted the injured Naveed (38) and Ramzan (45) to Jinnah Hospital for treatment.

Twenty-year-old Ali Hassan fell from the rooftop of his house near LDA Signal on Raiwind Road during the windstorm and received injuries.

A labourer fell from the rooftop of an under-construction house in Jazak City on Multan Road and passed away. He was identified as Zahid (40) and his body was handed over to the police to fulfil the medico-legal formalities.

On Burki Road, 16-year-old Umari fell from the rooftop of his house and received injuries. On Raiwind Road, 55 years old Kubra was injured when the wall of her house collapsed near Indus Hospital.

In Chungi Amar Sidhu, an elderly man was killed and another was injured when they fell from the rooftop of a house. The deceased was identified as 60 years old Nazeer. The injured man, 50 years old Ramzan was taken to Lahore General Hospital for treatment.

A labourer was killed in Shafiqabad locality of the city when the wall of an under-construction house fell on him. The deceased was identified as Ihsan.

In Jhelum, three persons, including a woman, were killed while 32 were injured in incidents of wall collapse and the uprooting of a tree. 

One person was killed in Sheikhupura where the roof of a factory caved in. 

Two people, including a 12-year-old child, were killed in two separate rain-related incidents in Shakargarh.

Deaths were also reported from Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Mianwali and Nankana.

In Multan, one person lost his life while 18 others were injured after the city was pummelled by a fierce windstorm. Most of the localities of the city plunged into darkness after 350 feeders tripped. 

The storm also uprooted mango trees. According to estimates, the storm caused 20 per cent damage to mango orchards. 

The power supply was also suspended in several other cities of Punjab such as Faisalabad, Attock, Gujranwala, Hafizabad and Multan.

DG PDMA Punjab promises compensation

Meanwhile, DG PDMA Punjab said that on the instructions of the Punjab government, those whose properties were damaged due to the windstorm would be compensated for their losses. 

"Similarly, amounts will be paid to the relatives of those who lost their lives in rain-related incidents," he added. 

Similarly, several trees were uprooted while billboards were blown away after a fierce hailstorm pounded the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. 

Sensing the gravity of the situation, the district administration of Rawalpindi had to impose rain emergency. 

In Peshawar, a dust storm created a lot of inconvenience for the residents. 

The downpour and a hailstorm were also reported from Swat where water entered shops and people’s homes.  

The hailstorm caused damage to crops and orchards. 

Hailstorms were also reported from Mardan, Charsadda and some other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), while it rained cats and dogs in different parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). 

Private airline’s flight fails to land at Lahore airport

Turbulence was created in a private airline’s flight, heading from Karachi to Lahore, after it got stuck in a windstorm, creating panic among the passengers and forcing the pilot to turn back to Karachi. 

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi offers condolences

Expressing grief and sorrow over the loss of lives and damage to property due to a windstorm and rain, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that the federal government stands by the Punjab government in these times.  

He has offered his condolences to the bereaved families. 

The minister has said he is deeply saddened to learn about the deaths of people and the damage caused to the people's properties. He has also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in rain-related incidents. 

Bilawal expresses grief over destruction due to storm

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while expressing grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in Punjab due to the storm, has stressed the need for utilizing all resources to speed up the rescue activities. 

He has also demanded the restoration of the power supply and the drainage of the rainwater.

Reporters: Ishtiaq Rabbani, Abid Chaudhry, Kalim Akhtar, Ahmar Khan Babar