More than 40 people, including women and children, died in Punjab as torrential downpours drenched the two regions on Thursday. Rescue services and police said 95 per cent of the casualties were caused when roofs collapsed in various districts during the heavy rainfall. Over 30 people sustained multiple injuries.
Thirteen people, including three women, succumbed to their injuries when the roofs of their homes caved in in Lahore. Rescue officials said the roof of a double-storey building caved in near Chah Miran area, Dhabi Ghaat, which resulted in the deaths of six persons, including three women, two males and an 11-month-old baby boy. Officials managed to recover the bodies from the debris and later shifted them to the morgue.
Similarly, a roof of a house collapsed in GOR-2 and two people were trapped under the rubble before they were rescued. They were shifted to the hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries. In Johar Town, one man died as he was electrocuted by a power line while another man in Johar Town’s E Block died as the roof of his home collapsed.
In Thokar Niaz Baig, three people were buried under rubble when their roof fell. Rescue workers shifted them to the hospital, where doctors said two were dead on arrival, while one woman succumbed to her injuries.
A man was trapped in his home near Samanabad Roundabout and died as rescue teams were reportedly late in responding to emergency calls for help. On Hall Road at Main Mall Road, three people were injured when a tree fell on their car late on Wednesday night. The vehicle was badly damaged and the injured were shifted to hospital, where one is said to be in a critical condition.
Outside the provincial capital, one person died and six sustained multiple injuries in two separate incidents of roof collapses in Faisalabad. Four people were killed and two injured in Gujranwala in identical circumstances. Five others were killed and two sustained injuries in road mishaps and incidents of electrocution in Sialkot district. In Chundowal village, one person died and two were injured in rain-related accidents. Roof collapses in Okara and Kasur led to the death of one, while 10 others sustained injuries. Rescuers said most of the buildings were dilapidated and had weak foundations.
DG Rescue Punjab Dr Rizwan Naseer advised those in the province to remove debris and any extra weight from their rooftops. Sandbags can be placed at the base of the home to strengthen the foundations, Dr Naseer said, while mud can be put on the walls to avoid collapses. He urged people to remove or cover all electrical wires to avoid accidental electrocution. Motorcyclists should be cautious on the rain-slicked roads as well, he said.
In Faisalabad, a fire broke out at Jhang Road grid station due to the rainfall leaving six panels and one transformer burned. Firefighters of Rescue 1122 teams brought the fire under control after three hours.
The electricity supply to 20 feeders including Lakkar Mandi, Kamal Abad, Afghan Abad, Muhammad Pura, Khalid Abad, Liaqat Abad, Bakkar Mandi, Gardana, Gulfishan, Kausar Abad and Sabzi Mandi was disrupted.
In Gujranwala, 19 people died in rain related incidents. The wall of an academy collapsed in the area of Gakhar Mandi, Natt Kalan Road killing one student and injuring two others. Meanwhile, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued advisories to all concerned departments advising precautionary evacuations of population and livestock residing close to river courses. Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMAs) and District Administrations have been asked to place all response agencies and health units on alert.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2014.
COMMENTS (1)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1714024018-0/ModiLara-(1)1714024018-0-270x192.webp)
Is this also CM KPK's fault?