Boy killed in Shah Alam Market wall collapse

A boy was killed after a plaza wall collapsed on him during rain in Lahore's Shah Alam Market. The weather system also brought dust storms, lightning incidents and property damage in several parts of Punjab.

LAHORE: A boy died on Thursday after a wall from the top of a plaza fell on him during rain in Noor Wali Gali in Shah Alam Market.

According to the Wasa control room, Lahore received an average rainfall of 3.2mm. The highest rainfall was recorded in Saggian at 10mm, followed by Gulshan-i-Ravi with 8mm, Lakshmi Chowk with 7.6mm and Pani Wala Talab with 6.6mm. Light rain was also reported in Tajpura at 4.6mm, Shadipura at 5.4mm and Jail Road at 1.75mm, while trace rainfall was noted at the Airport, Mughalpura, Samanabad and Defence Road.

Earlier, a strong weather system brought rain, dust storms and high winds to several parts of Punjab, damaging property and disrupting traffic. In Muzaffargarh, two children were injured after a house wall collapsed.

In south Punjab, dust storms caused damage to mango orchards in different areas, while strong winds uprooted trees. In Multan, billboards came down during the storm and damaged vehicles parked along roads.

In Lahore, cloud cover spread across the city and cool winds were followed by rainfall in different localities. Wasa Vice Chairman Chaudhry Shehbaz Ahmed, Wasa Punjab Director General Tayyab Farid and Wasa Managing Director Ghufran Ahmed directed officials to ensure that major roads and underpasses remained clear.

In Multan, the district administration and Wasa stepped up preparedness measures in view of expected heavy rainfall. Deputy Commissioner Nauman Siddique visited the New Shah Shams Disposal Station and reviewed the machinery there. Emergency arrangements were being made to ensure prompt drainage of rainwater.

Meanwhile, two men were injured after lightning struck near Jumma Morr in the Sakhi Sarwar area of Dera Ghazi Khan on Thursday night. The injured were identified as 25-year-old Mushtaq, who suffered a head injury, and 35-year-old Mustafa.

National Highways and Motorways Police spokesperson Syed Imran Ahmed said rain was reported in different parts of central Punjab. He said heavy rainfall was recorded from Lahore Eastern Bypass to Kamoke, on Motorway M-11 from Kamoke to Sambrial, and from Muridwala to Darkhana on M-3.

Weather system affects multiple districts

The weather-related incidents reported on Thursday reflected the wider impact of the system across Punjab, with rain, dust storms and strong winds affecting urban centres as well as agricultural areas. Authorities in Lahore and Multan issued directions focused on drainage and road clearance as conditions developed.

The fatal incident in Shah Alam Market occurred amid these weather conditions, while separate incidents in Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan also left people injured.