Rain leaves four of family dead

Two-day death toll in city rises to 11; three building collapse

LAHORE:

At least four people of a family died in a roof collapse on the second day of heavy downpour in Lahore on Thursday, raising the death toll to 11.

The accumulated water was yet to drain and evaporate when the rain resumed on Thursday morning. Other than causing flooding of roads, chowks and streets, it caused severe accidents. At least three incidents of building collapse were reported in the provincial capital, in which four people died and at least 16 were injured.

A man and his three daughters died, while another daughter was injured after a roof collapsed in Chungi Amar Sadhu. As the roof collapse, the five family members, four daughters and their father, were stuck under the debris. Rescue 1122 teams faced difficulty in rescuing them because of continuous heavy downpour and inundation. When they removed the debris, Javed Iqbal, 40, Aimen, aged four, Zara, six, and Azan, eight, had died.

Kainat ,10, suffered injuries and was shifted to the Lahore General Hospital for treatment. Another incident was reported from Mozang where a wall of a hospital collapsed over attendants and visitors sitting in the waiting area. At least 14 persons were injured in the incident.

Nearby people, doctors, medical staff and the visitors ran to the site. Rescue teams removed the debris and evacuated the victims.

The injured were moved to the emergency ward of the hospital and provided first aid and treatment. Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi also visited the spot. The third incident was reported in Gujjar Pura where a 52-year-old man was injured after a roof collapsed over him.

Bashir Majeed, 52, was present under the roof made up of bamboo sticks, red clay and TR guarders. He was shifted to the Mayo Hospital. The data compiled by Punjab Emergency Service Rescue 1122 showed that at least 16 people had died and 26 injured in rain-related accidents throughout the province in past two days. At least 11 people died in Lahore and 20 were injured. In the city, 11 cases of electrocution in which at least three people died were reported. At least seven people died in seven incidents of roof and house collapse and 18 were injured. A boy died of drowning in a plot in the city.

In Gujranwala, three people died and five were injured in an incident of roof collapse. In Faisalabad, a man died and another was injured in a similar incident. A man died of electrocution in Jhang.

Lahore Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa visited Ravi river and reviewed the situation. During the visit, he was accompanied by officers of Pakistan Army, district administration of Lahore and Sheikhupura, Rescue 1122, WASA, irrigation and other departments. During a briefing, the departments provided details on the preparations in case of any emergency or flood.

The commissioner said encroachments under the bridges on the river must be removed immediately. He was informed in the briefing that a preliminary warning had been issued by the PDMA regarding the flood in Ravi.

About 14,000 cusecs of water was flowing in Ravi river.

The commissioner said the administration of Lahore and Sheikhupura should complete the arrangements as per SOPs.

There was normal flow in the river with the water below the bridges. All necessary preparations and availability of resources should be ensured before any emergency, the official added.

Rescue 1122 and MCL were instructed to carry out stock checking of all emergency supplies.

The commissioner said an evacuation plan should be ready and the officials should visit and finalise the sites for evacuation.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2023.