Pakistan's Punjab reports eight deaths, 45 injuries in rain and storm-related incidents
KARACHI: Pakistan's most populous Punjab province on Saturday released a preliminary report on damages caused by heavy rain and stormy weather, saying eight people were killed and 45 others injured in different cities as strong winds, lightning and hail battered parts of the country.
The report followed a weather alert issued a day earlier by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), warning of thunderstorms, gusty winds, dust storms and rain in parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Islamabad.
As the day progressed, heavy rain and hailstorms struck the federal capital and parts of KP after dark clouds gathered overhead. In Swat, torrential rain lashed the region with reports of hail in some areas and surging waters in local rivers and streams.
In Punjab's major cities, including Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Jhelum and Lahore, the storm brought strong winds and poor visibility, prompting authorities to temporarily shut down sections of the motorway for safety.
'Eight citizens lost their lives and 45 others were injured due to storm and rain-related incidents,' the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab said in a statement. 'Fatalities occurred in Rawalpindi (1), Jhelum (3), Sheikhupura (1), Nankana Sahib (1), Sialkot (1) and Mianwali (1).'
The PDMA said deaths were primarily caused by collapsing dilapidated structures or being in unsafe locations during the storm. Heavy downpour damaged several mud and old brick houses in many of these places, while in Lahore, incidents of fallen trees and damaged solar panels were also reported.
According to PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia, all district emergency operations centers have been activated, while the provincial control room is monitoring the situation round-the-clock.
'Citizens are advised to avoid unnecessary travel during severe weather and stay away from electric poles and hanging wires,' he warned.
'People should remain indoors during lightning storms and ensure children stay away from weak or damaged buildings,' he added.
Kathia said financial assistance would be provided to affected families in accordance with the provincial administration's policy.
A fresh advisory issued Saturday evening by the National Weather Forecasting Center in Islamabad warned of potential damage to weak infrastructure, including electricity poles, trees, vehicles and solar panels, due to thunderstorms, hail and heavy rain expected overnight and into Sunday.
Pakistan has increasingly faced extreme weather events, including droughts, heatwaves and floods, linked to climate change. In 2022, it witnessed unprecedented monsoon rains that submerged much of the country, killing about 1,700 people and causing infrastructure losses exceeding $35 billion.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan forecasts monsoon rains from June 25, warns of flash floods and landslides
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (Met) on Monday forecast that several parts of the country will receive heavy monsoon rains from June 25 onwards, urging masses to take precautions against the resulting flash floods and landslides in low lying and hilly areas. The alert comes as Pakistan braces for another season of extreme weather, following deadly heatwaves and catastrophic floods in recent years. Ranked among the ten most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, Pakistan is ramping up preparedness efforts, especially in Punjab, where authorities expect significantly above-average rainfall this monsoon. In a press release, the Met Office said moist currents are penetrating the upper and central parts of the country and are likely to become 'intensified' in the next couple of days. 'A westerly wave is expected to approach upper parts on 25th June and likely to become significant on 26th June,' the Met Office said. It warned that several areas of Azad Kashmir will receive scattered heavy rainfall from June 24 to July 2. Rain, wind and thunderstorms are expected in Gilgit-Baltistan's Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar areas from June 26-29, it said. — Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) June 23, 2025 The Met Office said rain with thunderstorms are expected in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, and other cities of Punjab from June 25 to July 1. The weather department said rain with thundershowers are expected in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Bajaur, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Waziristan, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Hangu and Kurram from June 25 to July 1 with occasional gaps. 'Rain wind/thundershower is expected in northeastern/southern parts of Balochistan (Sherani, Musakhel, Loralai, Sibbi, Barkhan, Naseerabad, Kalat, Lasbella, Khuzdar, Awaran, Kalat, Jaffarabad, Dera Bugti and Kohlu) from 25th night to 28th June,' it added. In Sindh, the Met Office said Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Kashmore, Hyderabad, Tharparkar, Mirpur Khas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta, Badin and Karachi are expected to receive rain with thundershowers from June 25-28 with occasional gaps. The PMD warned that heavy to very heavy rains may generate flash floods in local nullahs and streams of Murree, Galiyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Nowshera, Swabi, Islamabad/Rawalpindi and other areas from June 26 to July 1. 'Landslides may cause roads closure in the vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the wet spell,' PMD said. It advised farmers to manage their activities keeping in mind the weather forecast and advised travelers and tourists to remain 'extra cautious.' 'All concerned authorities are advised to remain 'ALERT' and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation,' the press release concluded.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Heavy rains, lightning strikes kill at least six people in Pakistan's northwest
ISLAMABAD: Heavy rains and lightning strikes killed at least six people and injured five others in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province this week, the KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Sunday. A total of seven houses were damaged due to rains, strong winds and flash floods that have lashed the province since June 20, according to a PDMA report. The accidents occurred in Mansehra, Buner, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Malakand and Kohistan districts of the province. 'The deceased include three men, one woman and two children, while the injured include three men and two women,' it said. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) this week forecast pre-monsoon rains in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab and KP from June 20 till June 23. 'The PDMA has already issued a letter to the district administrations to remain alert and take preventive measures,' it added. Last month, rains and thunderstorms killed at least 26 people in KP and Punjab provinces, authorities said. Pakistan has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns which have led to frequent heat waves, untimely rains, storms, cyclones and droughts in recent years. Scientists have blamed the events on human-driven climate change. In 2022, devastating floods, blamed on human-driven climate change, killed more than 1,700 Pakistanis, affected another 33 million and caused the country over $30 billion in economic losses.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Al Arabiya
A tornado that swept through a rural town in North Dakota left at least three people dead
Powerful winds – including a tornado – that swept across parts of the upper Midwest left three people dead and a regional airport heavily damaged while nearly 150 million Americans were under a heat advisory or warning as the weekend warms much of the US. A complex storm system wreaked havoc in parts of North Dakota, northern Minnesota, and northern Wisconsin, with reported tornadic activity, large hail, and strong wind gusts, according to Brian Hurley, meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center. Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner said at a press conference Saturday that two men and a woman were killed at two separate locations around the town of Enderlin, North Dakota, late Friday. Enderlin is about 57 miles (92 kilometers) southwest of Fargo. About 24,000 customers were without power in North Dakota. Hours earlier, in a post on the social media site X, the National Weather Service in Grand Forks said two deaths were attributed to a tornado that hit a home. 'Tornado confirmed by National Weather Service.' Timothy Lynch, lead forecaster with the NWS office in Grand Forks, said the storm had been confirmed as a tornado, but that crews were still working to determine its strength and highest wind speeds. He said the storm impacted the neighboring counties of Cass and Ransom. 'We still have people out investigating and gathering information on what happened. It was a pretty major event,' Lynch told The Associated Press on Saturday. Heavy winds also swept across localized areas of Minnesota. The NWS reported wind gusts of up to 106 mph (171 kph) at Bemidji Regional Airport overnight. 'I cannot ever recall hearing a rushing wind like that!' Bemidji Mayor Jorge Prince posted on Facebook in the early hours Saturday. 'Emerged from our basement to find our neighborhood with lots of trees down and several homes with severe damage.' Prince also said officials were responding to many knocked down power lines and several gas line leaks. Beltrami County Emergency Management said the damage to the Bemidji area is extensive. Many Bemidji-area businesses posted on social media Saturday saying they were without power and closed for the day. Nearly 34,000 customers in Minnesota were without power, according to Hurley said that same storm is traversing across parts of Michigan but is weakened. It will cross over lower Ontario, Canada, and back into the US to hit upstate New York on Saturday night into Sunday. 'Still wind and hail threat,' Hurley said of the enhanced risk to upstate New York. 'It doesn't look like it's going to be as robust perhaps as we saw last night.' Almost 59 million Americans are under an extreme heat warning Saturday, Hurley said, as the high temperatures combined with humidity push an above-average heat index for the Northern Plains and the Midwest. Parts of Nebraska, the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Iowa could face temperatures easily 20 degrees above normal, Hurley said, including some areas reaching the triple digits. 'It may be expected in July,' he said, 'but it's rarer to see in June. A lot of these areas have been pretty cool with rain over the last month or so, so it's going to be a little bit of a shock,' Hurley said. Cooling centers were open in cities including Omaha and Minneapolis as officials warned the public of dangerously hot conditions. An additional 84 million people were under a heat advisory as forecasters expect the extreme weather to migrate eastward toward the Great Lakes, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast, where the heat risk category is a 4 of 4 into early next week, Hurley said. Meanwhile, parts of the Great Basin and the Southwest may be hot but are seeing relief from below-normal temperatures.
