Dozens more loose lives in countrywide rains

July, 22 2010
ISLAMABAD: Dozens of people, including many children, lost their lives in separate rain-related incidents as downpour continued in various parts of the country on Thursday. The incessant spree of monsoon rains continued in most part of the country including Punjab and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa provinces while the spate was heading to hit Sindh. The most rain, 179 mm within last 24 hours, was recorded in Mianwali while met office has forecast more showers all across country in days to come. According to news reports, in Lahore only, 10 persons were reported dead in rain-related incidents. A child was electrocuted in Chongi Amar Sadhu, Lahore, while a man died after the roof of his house collapsed in Manawan area in the outskirts of the Punjab capital, police sources said. According to Rescue 1122 and hospital sources, Muhammed Tufail (60) died and his son Muhammad Ayub 35 sustained injuries as the building of their house at Kot Kamboh, Munawan collapsed due to heavy rain. Another incident occurred in front of Data Darbar Gate No 1 where a man Imran s/o Mehboob was electrocuted by touching an electricity pole. Another building collapsed near Timber Market, Ravi Road where seven persons of a family including Safdar, 35, his wife Nasira, 25, and their five children were seriously injured. Nine persons were injured after an old building near Jain Mander, Lytton Road, collapsed early in the morning and all of them came under the debris. Low lying areas and even some posh localities came under knee-deep rain water in different parts of Lahore and people faced a lot of hardships doing daily chores. Attendance remained thin in the offices while shortage of public transport left many in the lurch. A man died after the roof of his house collapsed in Gujranwala. Fatima Bibi died while her daughter Zeenat, 3, was injured when the roof of her house collapsed. Three people, including Akbar and Zeeshan, were injured when the roof of their house caved in on Noshera Road. Yasin was electrocuted at Farid Town. A man also died of electrocution in Phularwan area in Sargodha. Overnight string of the torrential rains have left low-lying areas submerged in Sargodha. Six persons have reportedly been wounded due to collapse of walls in katchi abadis. Another person was electrocuted in Sargodha. A person died due to roof collapse in Faisalabad. The stormy downpours intermittently also continued since last night in Dera Ismail Khan and the adjoining areas. At least three children and a woman were killed as their house caved in Aba Shaheed. In the federal capital, the two-day downpour has increased water level in Simly Dam and the CDA is expecting that good monsoon rains would help overcome water scarcity. The municipal authorities have set up special relief cells to deal with emergency situations in case of heavy rains. The authorities will closely watch Nullah Leh in Rawalpindi. Two kids died in rain related incidents in Murree, police sources said; one among them was playing outside his home when he was swept away by the rainwater, while another was electrocuted. Rain spell also lashed Azad Kashmir and Muzaffarabad. Meanwhile, at least four persons of the same family including mother and her three children were killed when roof of their house collapsed in Mandi Bahauddin. About 50 people were injured when the roof of a house collapsed at Mauza Badshahpur. The Rasm-e-Qul of the wife of Khushi Muhammad was going on when the roof caved in. As a result, 50 people, including a woman, were injured. A 12-year-old girl died when the roof of her house collapsed at Dhillam village, Daska. A 12-year-old boy was electrocuted at Mohallah Mianpura in Sialkot. Naeem was passing through the rainwater when he accidentally touched an electricity pole. As many as 70 houses collapsed in Bannu alone. Gori Police Station SHO Sabaq Khan said last night heavy rain suddenly raised the water level in Kachkot rainy canal as result 60 houses in the low-laying area were washed away by the gushing water. Meanwhile, the local administration has proclaimed an emergency in district Gujrat amid fears of flood. In Sindh and Balochistan, hot and humid weather is expected in most parts of the provinces. However, isolated light rain may occur in lower Sindh and northeast Balochistan during the next two days. Heavy rainfalls were predicted for Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sargodha and Lahore division during the next 24 hours may cause low level flood in the catchment areas. According to Met office, 98 mm rain was recorded at Lahore Airport, 60 mm in Faisalabad, 50 mm in Bhakkar, 93 mm in Noorpur Thal, 37 mm in Sargodha, 23 mm in Jhang, 113 mm in Bannu, 85 mm in Gari Dopatta, 71 mm in Peshawar, 64 mm in Muzaffarabad, 28 mm in Islamabad and 7 mm in Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, the meteorological Office has forecast widespread thunderstorm and downpour during next 24-36 hours in different parts of the country as southwest monsoon current from Arabian sea is penetrating in sub-mountain areas of Punjab and Kashmir.
By: Ary News