Gusty winds with thunderstorm claim five lives, destroy 55 vehicles in Islamabad
As many as 66 people were also got wounded in the mishap who have been shifted to the hospital.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News APP) – At least five people were reportedly dead, 66 people sustained injuries while as many as 55 cars were destroyed in a powerful thunderstorm in Islamabad, reported on Thursday.
The gusty winds sweeping across the twin cities blew at a speed of 148 km/h and 120 km/h in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, respectively.
Sources told that toppled trees and power pool completely damaged at least 55 cars in sector F and G while five people were killed in different rain-related incidents.
Many areas of the twin cities remained without electricity.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Abdul Sattar has said that Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials are busy in cleaning all the mess on the roads.
As many as 66 people were also got wounded in the mishap who have been shifted to the hospital for medical assistance.
About five persons, who sustained minor injuries, were treated at the Benazir Hospital, Rawalpindi while half a dozen cases were reported at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital.
Many domestic flights were suspended because of the fierce storm.
“The storm was so unpredictable and abrupt that we had to run for our lives,” said Irshad Khan, the owner of a stall at Aabpra market. He suffered a loss of more than Rs.10,000.
In rural areas of twin cities, some houses were damaged when the uprooted trees fell on the roofs, which failed to bear the burden and caved in. However, no casualty was reported from the rural belts.
On the other hand, many cities of Punjab including Lahore, Gujranwala, Kasur, Sialkot and Jhelum were also whipped by wind and dust storms.
In Gujranwala feeders of Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) tripped. Daily routine life was also disturbed in Kasur due to storm whereas in Gujrat electricity poles fell down.
In Pakka Garra near Sialkot, walls of two houses collapsed whereas in Gujrat sign-boards and trees fell down which caused a traffic jam. In Sialkot electric wires fell down and this resulted in fire.
