Sindh storm death toll climbs to 16: PDMA

KARACHI:

As many as 16 people lost their lives and 96 sustained injuries while over a hundred trees fell due to thunderstorm and rain related incidents in different districts of Sindh, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Sindh reported.

According to the PDMA report, severe weather conditions, strong winds, thunder and lightning caused loss of lives and injuries while 38 houses were damaged and 102 trees fell.

The worst-hit district was Shaheed Benazir Abad, where 10 people including four women lost their lives and 32 got injured, Director General PDMA Sindh, Salman Shah informed, adding that 3 deaths and 9 injuries were reported in Kashmore, while one woman died and 54 people injured in Ghotki.

In district Tharparkar, a woman lost her life in a lightning strike while an elderly woman died during rain and storm in Qambar Shahdadkot, he added.

Rescue and relief operations are underway in the affected districts and local administrations have been mobilized to assess the damage and provide assistance, said the DG PDMA Sindh.

He added that the authority was monitoring the situation across the province in coordination with the districts administration. All District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) were put on high alert and directed to ensure emergency preparedness in view of further worsening weather conditions, he said and also urged citizens to exercise caution during thunderstorms, avoid unnecessary travel to the affected areas and follow the safety instructions.