Karachi dust storm leaves death, destruction in its wake

KARACHI: The sudden dust storm that battered Karachi on Wednesday night left death and destruction.

At least five people were reportedly killed due to roof and wall collapses caused by strong gales and heavy rain, while over a dozen others suffered injuries in similar incidents.

The deceased have been identified as 60-year-old Zarmeena Khatoon from Saadi Town, 45-year-old Wasim from Lyari, 15-year-old Farhan from Gulistan-e-Johar and 42-year-old Saeed from Faqeer Goth in Gulshan-e-Maymar. The bodies were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities.

Meanwhile, two people sustained injuries as the walls of their houses in Gulshan-e-Maymar collapsed due to the storm.

At least 5 killed in structural collapses; nearly 70 buffaloes burnt to death in Bhains Colony blaze. PHOTO: EXPRESS

Moreover, five persons were wounded as a consequence of wall collapses in Lyari, Taiser Town and Surjani Town, all of whom were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment. They were identified as Lal Bibi, Niaz, Omar, Muhammad Ali and Muhammad Amir.



Separately, over a dozen people were reported to have been injured in the dust storm in Orangi Town, Manghopir, Qasba Colony, Pahar Ganj, North Karachi, Malir and other areas.

The blaze

Strong winds also caused a fire to erupt in Bhains Colony. The deadly blaze ravaged several dairy farms, burning scores of buffaloes to death.

According to Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association president Shakir Omar Gujjar, strong winds caused the rapid spread of the fire, creating panic. Even as farm owners and workers began shifting buffaloes to a safe location amid the chaos, the fire claimed the lives of approximately 75 buffaloes, injured several others and gutted 70 farms, he said.

Speaking about the cause of the fire, he said that a dung fire in one of the farms flared up due to the storm and spread rapidly through the area, propelled by strong winds.

Firefighters soon began rescue operations while the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board managing director enforced an emergency at the city's hydrants to ensure an uninterrupted water supply to extinguish the fire.

According to fire department officials, it took six fire tenders and 10 bowsers to douse the fierce blaze.

Police and Rangers personnel also participated in the rescue operation and the area was cordoned off as the cooling process continued late into the night.

According to Gujjar, the fire caused a loss of millions for the dairy farmers.