Girl killed, five injured as rains lash districts across Punjab

Accumulated rainwater creating difficulties for commuters

FAISALABAD: A six-year-old girl was killed while five others suffered injuries after rains lashed different parts of Punjab, including Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan and other areas.

Rescue 1122 officials told Express News that Amina and her sister Fatima were present in their house in Muzaffar Colony when the roof collapsed due to heavy rains. As a result, both sisters were buried under the debris.



Rescue officials reached the site and recovered the victims. They shifted them to Allied Hospital for treatment. However, Amina could not survive and succumbed to her injuries.

In yet another incident, the roof of a house collapsed in Saifabad area during rainfall. As a result, 26-year-old Sobia, 24-year-old Naila, Sonia, 17, and nine-month-old Urooj were injured. The injured were shifted to a local hospital where their condition was said to be stable.

Rains also disrupted power in Sialkot and Faisalabad districts while several complaints were registered on the power utility’s toll free number. Complaints of feeders tripping were also reported in some areas however, electricity was restored after a few hours.

Meanwhile, heavy rains also disrupted traffic in several areas. Commuters were stranded in traffic jams for hours after rainwater accumulated on major thoroughfares.



The Met office predicted more rains in different parts of Punjab during the next few days.

Earlier, Met Office Spokesperson Khalid Mahmood Malik said “This year, Pakistan is experiencing the hottest summer as compared to previous years. Temperatures remained two to three degrees above normal.”

Chances are high that the country will experience two to three spells of showers which will bring respite from the intense heat, he said.

Malik maintained that in 2018, the southern half of the country experienced slightly higher temperatures compared to the north.

He said that it is also expected that pre-monsoon showers in catchment areas will help improve water levels in Mangla and Tarbela dams; the two major water reservoirs if the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2018.