Rain, storm claim three lives

Three people were killed and 16 others were injured in separate incidents due to severe hailstorms, high winds and continuous rain throughout the district on Saturday. High winds caused walls, roofs, trees and other debris to collapse during the past two days.

A 60-year-old woman lost her life on the spot while two others were seriously injured in a collision between a motorcycle and a tractor-trolley amid strong winds and rain. Separately, two people were injured when the roof of a house collapsed in Chak Chupa. Six others were injured when the roof of a house collapsed in Islampura and a 6-year-old girl died under debris after a wall collapsed near Model Town Chowk.

Similarly, the roof and boundary walls of a laborer's house collapsed in Madina Town, as a result of which six people, including the labourer’s son, died on the spot. Aside from houses and other buildings, mango orchards in the area were severely damaged due to heavy rains and winds.

Rainwater entered houses and caused electric feeders to trip, completely interrupting the electricity supply in the district. People could not get drinking water from filter plants due to widespread power outages.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2023.