28 killed as heavy rains lash parts of Pakistan
At least 28 people were killed and over 100 injured after heavy rains and thunderstorms hit several parts of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on Saturday, reports Pakistan-based Geo News.
As per the provincial disaster management authority (PDMA), 25 people were killed in rain-related incidents in KP's Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Karak and Lakki Marwat while 145 were injured. It added that at least 69 houses were partially damaged by the rain.
As per PDMA's breakdown, 15 people died and 100 were injured in Bannu. It also added that 68 houses were partially damaged in the area.
Meanwhile, at least five people were killed and 42 others were wounded in the Lakki Marwat district.
Meanwhile, in Karak, four people died and one person was injured. In, Dera Ismail Khan a child died due to the rains, two people were injured and one house was partially damaged.
A Rescue 1122 official said that all stations of their Rescue 1122 in KP are on the alert to deal with any untoward incident.
He said relief activities continued as due to heavy rain, roof collapses occurred at many places in Lakki Marwat, Bannu and other parts of the province.
He disclosed that Rescue 1122's search and rescue operations are ongoing as all the injured are being shifted to the hospital after providing medical aid on the spot.
KP caretaker Information Minister Barrister Feroze Jamal Shah, in a statement, said that a high alert had been issued in the hospitals of the affected districts.
He said the interim government was in contact with the authorities of the affected areas.
Similarly, heavy rains along with strong winds battered several parts of Punjab including Sargodha, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and other districts.
In Chan village of the Khushab district of the province, three girls died after a wall of their house collapsed due to torrential rains.
At least 10 people were injured in rain-related incidents in Gujranwala district.
Heavy rains and strong winds also disrupted electricity supply in many areas.
Heavy rain with thunderstorms was also reported from Azad Jammu and Kashmir's (AJK) Nakyal city and its suburbs.
PM Shehbaz orders urgent measures
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed regret over the loss of life and property in rain-related incidents in a telephonic conversation with Deputy Speaker National Assembly Zahid Akram Durrani, who hails from Bannu district.
“The people of Lakki Marwat will not be left alone in the hour of trouble,” an official statement quoted the premier as saying.
The prime minister directed the KP chief secretary and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to take urgent measures to deal with any untoward situation.
