ISLAMABAD, May 28 – Heavy rains and severe thunderstorms wreaked havoc in parts of Pakistan, claiming the lives of at least nine people while injuring more than 40 others, an official said on Wednesday.
An official from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) told Xinhua that the rainstorms also damaged houses, infrastructure and standing crops as well as perished livestock across the country.
The casualties and damages have been reported from the country’s eastern Punjab province, northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, said the official, adding that women and children are among the victims of the rain-related incidents.
In Punjab, at least two people were killed and 25 others injured, and more than 150 incidents of structural collapse were reported after heavy rainfall accompanied by gusty winds caused widespread destruction in the province, said the official.
Similarly, three people were killed and at least 15 others were injured as heavy downpours lashed Haripur, Swabi and Shangla areas of the KP province. More than 15 houses were also partially damaged in the rain-related incidents in the province.
In Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, a sudden cloudburst has left a trail of destruction, killing four people and leaving several people injured and missing, while damaging several properties, said the official.
Earlier, the NDMA has released an advisory regarding erratic weather systems likely to prevail in parts of the country until May 31, saying heavy rains and windstorms may damage loose structures, including electric poles, solar panels and vehicles, advising citizens to avoid unnecessary travel.
The NDMA also advised farmers to manage their crop activities keeping in view the weather conditions during the period.
XINHUA
