14 killed, 62 injured in Punjab, KP, AJK torrential rains

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: Torrential rains lashed Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir on Sunday, flooding low-lying areas, disrupting power supply and causing houses to collapse. At least 14 people were killed and 60 injured in rain-related incidents.

In Dera Ismail Khan, strong winds blowing at 100 km/h uprooted trees, knocked down poles and wires and left the entire city without electricity. Several houses also collapsed. In Mardan, one person was killed and two injured when the roof of a room caved in during the downpour. Heavy rain was also reported in Haripur, where dam spillways were opened as a precaution.

In Azad Kashmir, landslides triggered by rain caused four houses to collapse and a mosque to be destroyed. Continuous rainfall in Lahore submerged areas including Gulberg, Jail Road, Laxmi Chowk, Garhi Shahu, Mughalpura, Jallo, and GOR, with water entering homes. Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhelum, Chiniot, Chishtian and Sangla Hill also received heavy rainfall, disrupting power and water supplies after feeder trips and fallen poles.

Islamabad and Rawalpindi experienced torrential rain that flooded roads and canals. Bhara Kahu Uthal Chowk was submerged, water entered homes and shops. With water levels rising in Rawal Dam, spillways were opened. Hotels near rivers in Gilgit have been closed, while schools located along riverbanks will remain shut on Monday.

Murree witnessed intermittent heavy rains, landslides, and flooding in rivers, blocking major roads, including Kohala Road, Patriata, Kotli Satyan Road and the bypass. In Abbottabad and surrounding areas, hailstorms compounded the situation, while the Karakoram Highway turned into a water channel.

Authorities have issued a heavy rain alert nationwide until August 30, warning of flash floods and urban flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as risk of landslides in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra and Abbottabad.