2 killed, 9 injured in rain-related incidents across Punjab

LAHORE: At least two people were killed and nine others injured in rain-related incidents across Punjab during the past 24 hours, Rescue 1122 said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the number of deaths from rain-related incidents since June 30 rose to seven, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), a fresh monsoon spell across the country was set to begin from July 1 and continue till July 6.

In a statement on Thursday, Punjab Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad said the casualties resulted from the collapse of walls, roofs and a billboard triggered by strong winds and heavy rain.

In Attock, two people were killed and three others injured when a wall collapsed near Naya Pump. In a separate incident in Para Shaheen Bagh, three people sustained injuries after the roof of a house caved in, the spokesperson said.

In Khushab’s Qaidabad area, one person was injured after being struck by lightning. In Sargodha, one person suffered injuries when a signboard collapsed due to strong winds, he added.

In Sheikhupura, one person was injured after a wooden roof collapsed on Chak Risala Road. Rescue 1122 said emergency teams responded to all incidents and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals.

According to the PMD, Mandi Bahauddin recorded the highest rainfall of 23mm between 8pm to 11pm on Wednesday. Murree received 17mm, while Hafizabad and Sheikhupura recorded 14mm each.

Other areas received comparatively lighter rainfall, including Gujranwala (11mm), Lahore Airport (10mm), Gujrat (10mm), Garhi Dupatta (10mm), Lahore (6mm), Jhelum (6mm), Mangla (5mm), Kakul (4mm), Balakot (4mm), Barkhan (4mm), Islamabad Zero Point (4mm), Chaklala (4mm), Kotli (3mm), Malam Jabba (3mm), Pattan (1mm), Chakwal (1mm) and Dera Ghazi Khan (1mm).

7 killed so far in KP

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain-related incidents claimed the lives of seven people between June 30 and July 2, according to the PDMA.

A PDMA report said the deceased included a man each from Nowshera and Buner, a woman from Shangla, a child each from Haripur and Upper Dir, and two minors from Khyber.

While the PDMA said 19 people were injured, the report did not account for 21 female students hurt after lightning struck near their seminary in Upper Dir, which took the total number of wounded to 40.

The injured also included seven men, a woman and 11 children, who were affected in Bajaur, Khyber, Lower Dir, Mardan, Nowshera and Shangla.

The rainfall impacted infrastructure as well, destroying two houses in Shangla and partially damaging 36, including 27 in heavily hit Lower Chitral. Meanwhile, 25 cattle perished in Upper Dir during the period, PDMA said.

Human losses and infrastructure damage recorded between June 30 and July 2 in KP. — PDMA

Lower Chitral witnessed torrential rainfall and a cloudburst in the Osaik area of Drosh tehsil, resulting in a flashflood, the PDMA stated in an earlier update.

As a result, 27 houses were damaged, along with two mosques, two shops, a pedestrian bridge, two vehicles and two motorcycles.

Flashfloods caused by heavy rain also occurred in Upper Chitral, Haripur and Shangla, while lightning strikes were reported from Khyber, Bajaur, Buner and Upper Dir.

In Lower Dir, Mardan, Nowshera and Shangla, heavy rains coupled with gusty winds caused wall collapses and trees and solar panels to fall.

A statement issued by PDMA, citing data from the PMD, said 40mm of rainfall was recorded in Kakul during the last 24 hours, 35mm in Malam Jabba, 30mm in Bajaur’s Pashat, 25mm in Balakot, 15mm in Bajaur’s Khaar, 16mm in Parachinar and Mamad Gut each, 10mm in Timergara, 6mm in DI Khan airport area, and 4mm in Pattan.

Peshawar witnessed traces of rain, while Dir, Saidu Sharif and Cherat reported 1mm each.

The PDMA said partly cloudy weather with chances of rain-windstorm/thunderstorm was expected in Peshawar, Upper and Lower Dir, Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Kolai-Palas, Swat, Shangla, Malakand, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Swabi, Mohmand, Khyber, Nowshera, Charsadda, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, Kurram, Orakzai, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, D.I. Khan, Tank, and North and South Waziristan districts.

“Isolated hailstorm/heavyfalls may also occur during the forecast period,” it added.

Monsoon rains occur across the region from June to September, offering respite from the summer heat and are crucial to replenishing water supplies. However, heavy downpours also trigger deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas. ...