Three killed as rain, windstorm break heatwave across Punjab

LAHORE: Heavy rain and strong winds swept through Lahore on Thursday evening, bringing an end to the recent heatwave and lowering temperatures across the city, while rain-related incidents in Lahore and Narowal left three people dead and seven others injured.

Residents in Lahore and other parts of Punjab had been facing intense heat for several days before the weather changed. Rain began falling in several parts of the provincial capital, including Gulberg, Johar Town, Kot Lakhpat, Township, Ferozepur Road and Model Town. Intermittent showers were also reported in and around Kalma Chowk, Ichhra, Muslim Town, Wahdat Road, Garden Town, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Faisal Town, Canal Road, Allama Iqbal Town and the Nishtar Park Sports Complex.

The rainfall, accompanied by strong winds, disrupted movement on major roads in Lahore. Traffic was badly affected in different parts of the city, with long lines of vehicles reported on Ferozepur Road, Jail Road, and in DHA and Gulberg.

In one fatal incident in Lahore, a motorcyclist was killed when a tree fell on him on Canal Road near Harbanspura during the rain. The deceased was identified as Akmal, a resident of Imamia Colony. He was travelling alone at the time of the incident.

Narowal deaths and injuries

In Narowal district, two people died and seven were injured after strong winds and lightning affected Narowal, Shakargarh, Zafarwal and nearby areas. Trees, electricity wires, walls and rooftop solar panels on houses and animal shelters were brought down by the weather.

According to Hurmat Ali, spokesperson for Rescue 1122 Narowal, 13-year-old Hanzala Salman died after being struck by lightning in village Maan in tehsil Zafarwal, while 17-year-old Shazeb Asif died in Maan Jatan near Sankhatra in another lightning strike.

Heavy rain also caused water accumulation of one to three feet on streets and roads in Narowal city. The rain continued for around 45 minutes and disrupted the electricity system. All feeders of Gepco Narowal were shut down, leaving the city and surrounding villages without power. Electricity had not been restored even after several hours when the story was filed.

Strong winds also uprooted solar panels at a petrol pump near Shakargarh Road in Kartarpur. Muhammad Waqas, 32, and Mujahid, 25, were seriously injured after being hit by a solar panel. In Khanowal village, 65-year-old Shahid was seriously injured when a wall collapsed on him while he was feeding animals, and rescuers shifted him to hospital. Muhammad Naeem, Anwar, Shahrzad and Muhammad Salam were also injured in separate rain-related incidents.