Seven perish in rain-related accidents
In the Wahga village incident, the victims were asleep when the roof of the house suddenly caved in during the wee hours of the day. PHOTOS: ABID NAWAZ/EXPRESS
At least seven persons including three minors lost their lives while several others suffered injured in different accidents in the provincial capital amid heavy downpours in the wee hours of Friday.
The tragic accident included roof collapse, electrocution and lightning strike incidents.
Three children were killed and two others were injured when the roof of a dilapidated house collapsed in Kahna, Saraich village.
A mother and two of her children were injured when the roof of their house collapsed in Okara. Another room adjoining Mir Chakar Khan Rind’s Maqbara in Qasba Nol Plot of Okara collapsed. Three people were injured when a roof collapsed in Raiwind.
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Moreover, a minor boy named Ahmed died after being electrocuted by a power pole in the village and a man was killed in a lightning strike in Mandi, Ahmedabad. A young man named Mohammad Ashraf was killed in a lightning strike in Khadian Khas Bhagoke, Araiyanwala. A 40-year-old woman was crushed to death when a roof collapsed in Chunian.
Two buffaloes of a man named Sikandar were killed in a lightning strike in Bhamba Kalan village near Kot Radhakshan.
In the Wahga village incident, the victims were asleep when the roof of the house suddenly caved in. The family was trapped under the debris. Nearby people called Rescue 1122. The teams of the emergency service reached the spot on information, removed the debris and shifted the injured to the hospital after evacuation.
The other case was reported in Jhodhu village, Raiwind in which three victims were injured. The third case was reported in old Kahna Main bazaar, Lahore. This accident proved fatal as it claimed the life of one person and left two others critically injured.
The fire also caused nuisance for the commuters. Many major points and roundabouts of the city were inundated due to overflow of water. The heavy downpour impeded the flow of traffic as the vehicles moved at a slow pace at these points.
A spokesperson for the City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) said the torrential rains started early in the morning in the provincial capital and continued till noon. Due to standing of water on roads and squares, the flow of traffic was disturbed. Lahore Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Muntazir Mehdi came out in the field early in the morning for the flow of traffic.
He claimed that he stood in the squares with the wardens and kept the traffic flowing. Reportedly, traffic wardens were seen helping the citizens during the heavy downpour. All lifters, breakdowns were deployed on roads to help vehicles stuck in the water.
At the direction of the CTO, all circle officers remained present on busy and downhill highways. The CTO added that he was in touch with the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) administration for drainage.
“The WASA administration was kept informed of the water situation through wireless communication.” During the rains, most of the water flowed towards GC towards Istanbul Chowk, Church Chowk, Bhati Chowk towards Mori Gate, Ada Kron Plaza, Misrishah, Davis Chowk towards Lahore.
Mehdi said the traffic wardens were standing in the water and performing their duties. He also said that with the best strategy, the citizens did not face any traffic problem.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2021.