At least 20 people lost their lives and more than 150 sustained injuries in Punjab, Pakistan, as severe windstorms and intense rainfall lashed the region on Saturday night.
The storm’s strength was such that it halted road and air travel, destroyed infrastructure, and led to extensive power outages.
Deaths in Punjab due to building collapses and fallen billboards
As per the Punjab government, the majority of fatalities in the province of more than 13 crore resulted from the collapse of unsafe buildings or being caught beneath toppled billboards.
“At least 20 people, including children, were killed and over 150 injured in various parts of Punjab in incidents related to powerful windstorms and heavy rains,” the provincial government said on Sunday.
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Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa affected too
The strong winds and hail also affected the capital, Islamabad, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, resulting in significant harm to crops and power lines. Nonetheless, no injuries were noted there.
Storms with intense rainfall caused water to gather in various low-lying regions, and trees to fall in numerous locations.
A private airline flight FL-842 traveling from Karachi to Lahore narrowly avoided disaster as it encountered severe turbulence during its landing at Lahore airport.
Clips of travelers on the aircraft chanting Quranic verses became popular on social networks. They were observed weeping and supplicating for a secure arrival. Due to the turbulent weather preventing the plane from landing at the airport, air traffic control instructed the pilot to return the aircraft to Karachi.
As reported by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab, three individuals lost their lives in both Lahore and Jhelum, two in Sialkot and Muzaffargarh, and one each in Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Attock, Multan, Rajanpur, Hafizabad, Mianwali, Jhang, Gujranwala, and Layyah due to the collapse of house walls and roofs, as well as falling trees.
