At least 25 dead, 145 injured as rain, thunderstorm batter KP and Punjab
Pakistan
Strong winds disrupt electricity in various areas of KP
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Almost 29 people, including women and children, were killed and 145 injured as heavy rains coupled with thunder storm lashed parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on Saturday.
The KP Disaster Management Authority reported that at least 69 houses were affected due to the torrential rains coupled with thunderstorm in several areas of the province.
Various areas of the country experienced rains on Saturday with cities administration remaining on high alert to deal with any emergency situation.
Due to rains and storm, the worst destruction occurred in Bannu area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where five people, including three children, died due to the collapse of the walls and roofs of the houses with several injured also.
Meanwhile, in Lakki Marwat, two children and one woman also lost their lives due to intense rain while three children died in Karak with the dead bodies of all recovered from debris.
In Dera Ghazi Khan, thunderstorm injured one person and injured 15 who were being shifted to the district headquarters hospital and emergency was imposed in all hospitals of the area.
Rescue 1122 DG said relief operations were underway in the affected areas and injured were being shifted to the hospitals.
Meanwhile, KP caretaker information minister Barrister Feroze Jamal Shah confirmed the deaths and said high alert had been issued in hospitals of the affected areas.
Separately, heavy rains coupled with strong winds battered several parts of Punjab including Sargodha, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and other districts.
The painful incident occurred in the Khushab district of Punjab when three girls died following the collapse of wall.
At least 10 people were injured in rain-related incidents in Gujranwala district.
PM Shehbaz, President Alvi lament rain-related deaths
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and property caused by torrential rains over the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday.
After realising the gravity of situation in the affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Zahid Akram Durrani contacted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif via telephone. Zahid Akram Durrani apprised the Prime Minister about the havoc wreaked by rains in Bannu and Lakki Marwat districts of KPK.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the NDMA authorities to take expeditious measures to ameliorate the devastations caused by torrential rains. PM sought a report in the next 24 hours about the relief activities and the extent of damages.
Zahid Akram Durrani also requested financial assistance under the Prime Minister's package for the martyrs and the injured.
In a message, the President said he felt immense grief over the loss of lives and property in the rainstorms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He condoled with the bereaved families and sympathized with the affectees. He prayed for the elevation of ranks of the deceased in paradise and for the early recovery of the injured.
He said he hoped that the authorities concerned would deliver timely assistance in the affected areas.
Sindh cyclone threat
The prime minister also directed that prior emergency measures should be taken in the wake of the cyclone Biparjoy which was moving towards Karachi and asked NDMA to make prior arrangements in collaboration with the Sindh government and the provincial departments.
He also directed that full assistance should be given to the people in the situation of rains and storms in Balochistan. He said he himself was monitoring the relief activities in the country and the administration and institutions should take all steps to provide timely assistance to the people.
