Heavy downpour claims five lives

Rain also disrupts electricity supply in different areas of South Punjab

MULTAN: At least five people, including two sisters, died in rain related incidents in different areas of South Punjab, rescue officials told The Express Tribune on Monday.

A heavy downpour, with a storm, lashed Multan, Vehari, Muzaffargarh, Shujaabad, Sahiwal, Khanewal and claimed the lives of five people.

In the first incident, the roof of a plastic factory belonging to Rana Saqib, collapsed in Syedan Wala Bypass, Boson Road. The incident resulted in the death of 40-year-old worker Abdul Rashid. The deceased was a resident of Shujaabad.  Rescue 1122 officials recovered the body from the rubble and shifted it to the local hospital for legal formalities.

In Mian Channu Tehsil, an unidentified villager was trying to start a water pump during the rain when he suffered an electric shock. As a result, he died on the spot.



In Taunsa, 10-year-old Shabeena and seven-year-old Muneeza, daughters of Haq Nawaz, were on their way to buy grocery during rain when a wall of a house collapsed. Both the victims were buried under the debris and died on the spot.

In yet another incident, a woman was electrocuted to death in Hasilpur while performing ablution. Rescue workers shifted the body to the hospital for legal formalities.

Meanwhile, rainfall turned the weather pleasant and significantly reduced the temperature in South Punjab.

A met department said there were chances of more rains during the next 24 hours.  It recorded 11 millimetres of rain in Multan, while the temperature remained 39 degrees.

Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) officials told The Express Tribune that as soon as the rain started, their managing director Mushtaq Ahmed Khan summoned all the officers and employees to the station and sewerage division. He instructed the officials to carry out work to drain out water from markets and roads in the city.

Meanwhile, electricity in different areas, including Multan, Muzzafargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur was badly affected after the downpour.

When contacted, Multan Electric Supply Company (MEPCO) spokesperson said that Mepco’s 11 KV systems were damaged due to the storm and rains in various cities that resulted in power outages.

He claimed that the electricity system that was affected by the storm had been restored. He added that individual complaints had not been addressed so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2018.