Lahore, Gujranwala hit by hailstorm, hilly areas by snowfall; red alert declared in Balochistan; rains to continue for next 24 hours; wheat crop may be damaged
ISLAMABAD: Rains continued playing havoc in various parts of the country, especially Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, on Friday and at least 18 people, including 11 children, were killed in roof and wall collapse incidents and road accidents. The water level in Rawalpindi’s Nullah Leh increased after a downpour in the city.
A woman and her four children were killed after their house collapsed in village Killi Shina Ponga in the Shirani district of Balochistan due to heavy rains. Also, four women and one child were killed in another roof collapse incident in Zhob and five others in the Haramzai area of Pishin district.
Pishin DC Wahid Kakar said those killed included a grandfather, two grandsons and as many granddaughters. Three others were injured in the same incident.In Bhakkar, two children were killed in school wall and house roof collapses. In 63-ML village, a wall of the Government Girls’ Primary School collapsed, killing class one student Javeria, and injuring her brother Adnan, a class three student.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday took notice of the Bhakkar school wall collapse, and sought a report from the education minister and secretary schools education. He ordered an inquiry into the incident and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family over the death of a girl student. He also ordered the best treatment facilities for the injured.
On the Dajil Road, a young girl Shahnaz was killed and three persons, including Pervin, were injured. The injured were admitted to the DHQ Hospital in critical condition.
Also, three persons were killed and four others were injured when a passenger van with a tanker due to rain on Islamabad Murree Road.
Also, a man was killed and four others critically injured in a house collapse due to intermittent rains in Tank area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Friday. Police said Naeemullah, 12, was killed while Zota, Rafiullah, Aadil and Said Rehman of the same family sustained severe injuries when roof of their house collapsed in village Wadoki. Locals rescued the injured and shifted them to DHQ Hospital, Tank.
Heavy rains in Balochistan have wrecked havoc on life and property. Several roads have been swept and far-flung villages have been cut off from main cities. The worst-hit areas were Kalat, Sorab, Naukundi, Chagai, Qila Abdullah, Pishin, Yaro Saranan, Bostan, Toab, Kakari Toba, Achakzai, Noshki, Harboi, Nichara, Panjgur, Ziarat, Sibi, Mach, Dera Murad Jamali, Chhatar, Manjho, Shori Mir, Hasan Khuzdar, Naal, Wadh Karkh, Dalbandin, Taftan, Saindak, Gandawa, Chaman, Kharan, Awaran, Harnai, Zhob, Shirani, Musakhel, Barkhan and others.
Quetta received 34 mm rainfall during the recent spell, said the Met Office Friday. Many areas have been without electricity for several hours and a state of red alert has been declared in the province. The provincial government has directed local authorities to remain alert to cop with emergencies.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan said in a statement all arrangements have been made to deal with any emergency-like situation. The Met office said Balochistan might receive more rains during the next 24 hours. It also forecast flash floods in storm water nullahs.
Meteorological Department Director-General Dr Ghulam Rasool believes that heavy rains expected during this week are likely to affect the wheat crop in southern parts of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
He said wheat crop was ready to be harvested in southern Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and hailstorm in these areas might damage it. The current rain spell would continue till March 14 and after the gap of one day, rain is expected again on March 16 and 17, he said.
On Friday, Lahore and Gujranwala were hit by hail and rains. According to weather department, rain and thunderstorm are expected in Lahore on Saturday (today) while the spell would continue till the next 48 hours.
A low pressure area lies over north Balochistan and its adjoining areas. Westerly wave is affecting upper and central parts of the country and likely to persist till Sunday. Widespread rain-thundershower accompanied by strong gusty winds occurred in Balochistan, Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir, while at scattered places in Sindh.
The city received 7mm rain while the minimum temperature recorded in the city was 17 degrees Celsius and the maximum 24. The maximum in the country was 36°C at Benazirabad. Lalamusa city received heavy rain, followed by thunderstorm here on Friday. The heavy showers inundated various roads and streets of the city. The rainwater entered houses in low-lying areas including Jogi Mohallah, Tanki Mohallah, Qasba Mohallah, Sardarpura Road and Mohallah Lal Masjid, and caused problems for the residents.
