Nine die in rain-related incidents

DERA GHAZI KHAN/ RAWALPINDI/ MULTAN/ ZHOB: Heavy downpours, lightning and electrocution claimed nine lives in the country on Sunday. The downpours started in southern Punjab on late Saturday night and continued till Sunday, killing at least six people and injuring over 20.
The Met Office said scattered rain/thundershowers occurred in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore, Sahiwal, DG Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, DI Khan, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Quetta and Zhob divisions. Moreover, mountains in Skardu received snowfall.
Three persons, including a woman, died after heavy rain on late Saturday night, followed by a thunderstorm on Sunday morning, paralysed life with water standing on the roads and in populated areas of DG Khan.
According to the Met Office, DG Khan received 64 mms of rain – a record for the month of March – as the Tehsil Municipal Administration failed to drain out the rainwater with most of the main commercial hubs closed.
In Multan, three persons, including two minors, were killed in a roof collapse incident in Bilal Nagar Town of Chungi No-14 area.
A woman and her son, 2, were killed in a lightning strike in the Zhob area. Two children were injured in the incident. They were admitted to a local hospital.
Over 20 labourers were injured when the roof of a roadside restaurant caved in on the Nag Shah Road, Multan. The rescue operation continued for about two hours. As many as 15 labourers were provided first aid on the spot while others were shifted to the Nishtar Hospital where one of them was stated to be in critical condition. Over 150 labourers were taking meal at the time of the incident.
Most areas of DG Khan city were without power supply for hours that added to the miseries of people. The rain, which started late Saturday night, continued after the midnight while another spell of the rain started early Sunday morning and continued till noon.
There was four to six feet of rainwater standing in many localities, including the New College Road, New Quaid-e-Azam Road, Saddar Bazaar, Faridi Bazaar, Liaqat Bazaar and Faisal Chowk.
On the other hand, the poorly-maintained sewerage system in the populated areas of Faridabad Colony, Shakir Town, Sikhani Colony, Bhutta Colony, Muslim Town, Siddiqueabad, Buzdar Town, New Model Town and others collapsed, inundating streets as well as low-lying houses.
The Met Office has predicted more rain/ thundershowers in the district in the next 24 hours. The Suleman Range in the west of the district also received heavy rain suspending traffic from Taman Buzdar and Taman Qaisrani to the settled areas. An Irrigation Department official said the the Sorri hill torrent recorded a flow of 51,000 cusecs while that of Vidore above 19,000 cusecs.
Widespread rain and hailstorm were also reported from the Bahawalpur Division, in particular the Cholistan desert, killing hundreds of sheep near the Derawar Fort and in the adjoining areas of Toba Angtra, Toba Tharolla and others.
Torrential rain and hailstorm also paralysed life in Bahawalnagar, Chistain, Haroonabad, Ahmadpur East, Khan Bela, Liaqatpur and other areas.
Reports from Arifwala suggest that the city received an unprecedented heavy rain with hailstorm. The hailstones were stated to be of 1.5 inch in size that damaged vehicles and caused deaths of animals while people started calling Azaan. Lalamusa and the surrounding areas of Gujrat also received heavy rain.