Pre-monsoon showers claim three lives in Multan

Several reported injured in Dera Ghazi Khan and Khanewal districts

MULTAN: At least three people, including children lost their lives, while several were injured in different rain-related incidents across South Punjab on Thursday. Rains after short intervals continued to wreak havoc in various cities of the province.

In Multan’s Tiba Sultanpura area, two children died when the roof of a house collapsed while in Yazman, a man was killed when two motorcycles collided with each other due to heavy rains and thunderstorm.

Heavy rains claim seven lives in South Punjab

Rescue 1122 officials told The Express Tribune that 12 people, including two women and four children were injured in different incidents in the city.

In Dera Ghazi Khan District, two people were injured when the roof of a shop in Saddar Bazaar collapsed. Similarly, 10 people were injured in different roof collapse incidents in rural areas. The injured were shifted to District Headquarter Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan.

Rains that lashed several cities in South Punjab for the third consecutive day paralysed routine life. Streets and roads in many cities were inundated due to heavy showers.

According to Met officials, Multan City received 39 milimeters of rain. Special teams were constituted by district government and Water and Sanitary Agency for the provision of relief to the citizens.

An official of Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) told The Express Tribune that 426 electricity feeders tripped due to heavy rain and dust storm. As a result, power was disrupted in many areas of the city. Mepco official added 329 feeders were restored while work was underway to restore electricity to other areas.

Heavens open up: Heavy rains lash South Punjab

In Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Khanewal Districts, at least 200 feeders tripped due to heavy downpour. Dera Ghazi Khan’s Pachadh area was inundated due to the heavy rains while crops on hundreds of acres were destroyed. Meanwhile, residents of Basti Muazamabad and Mohallah Jhattan Wala protested against the government for not providing help to the affected people.

People demanded Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take notice of the situation and build safety bridges in Taunsa. Protesters threatened that if their demands were not fulfilled, they will stage a protest demonstration on Indus Highway and block it for vehicular traffic for an indefinite period.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2017.