Rain-related incidents kill nine, injure 28 across K-P, Punjab

Heavy rain, strong winds and flash floods killed at least nine people and injured 28 others across Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) over the past 48 hours, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Rescue 1122 confirmed on Thursday.

According to the PDMA (K-P), seven people were killed and 19 injured after roofs and walls of houses collapsed during heavy rain, windstorms and flash floods over the past 48 hours,

"The dead included two men, four children and one woman, while the injured comprised seven men, one woman and 11 children," it added.

The PDMA said 38 houses were damaged, including 36 that sustained partial damage and two that were destroyed, adding that the incidents were reported in the districts of Khyber, Lower Dir, Mardan, Shangla, Bajaur, Lower Chitral and Upper Dir.

The authority said it was coordinating with Rescue 1122, district administrations and other relevant departments, with relief operations continuing in the affected areas, directing district administrations to provide relief supplies to affected families, accelerate relief efforts and ensure immediate assistance for victims.

The director general of the PDMA urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from vulnerable tourist destinations and follow official alerts and advisories.

The authority said its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) remained fully operational and advised the public to report emergencies and obtain weather information through its toll-free helpline, 1700.

Read: Four dead as monsoon lashes northwest

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad said that in Punjab, heavy rain and strong winds over the past 24 hours killed two people and injured nine others in separate weather-related incidents.

According to Ahmad said two people were killed and three others injured after a wall collapsed near Naya Pump in Attock during strong winds and rain, saying in another incident in Attock's Para Shaheen Bagh area, three people were injured when a roof collapsed.

"One person was injured after being struck by lightning in Qaidabad, Khushab, while another was injured when a signboard fell during strong winds in Sargodha. In Sheikhupura, one person was injured after a wooden roof collapsed on Chak Rasala Road," the spokesperson said.

Ahmad said all the injured received first aid at the scene before being transferred to nearby hospitals. The agency urged the public to immediately contact the Rescue 1122 helpline in the event of an emergency.