ISLAMABAD: Heavy rain, thunderstorms, and windstorms have resulted in at least 12 fatalities and injured numerous others across Pakistan’s Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). This marks the second intense storm within a week that has caused widespread destruction to property, crops, and infrastructure.
PUNJAB
In Punjab, seven lives were lost due to lightning, collapsing walls, and vehicle accidents caused by storms. Notable incidents include a passenger van overturning near Attock, house walls collapsing injuring children and adults, and gusts causing falls and injuries in cities like Gujranwala and Rawalpindi.
The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) warns that these extreme conditions are expected to persist through May 31, especially threatening districts including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad.
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two people died while over ten others were injured in rain-related incidents. Roof collapses in Swabi, Shangla, and Nowshera, along with lightning strikes, contributed to the casualties. Heavy snowfall and rainfall have also disrupted travel on the Karakoram Highway, with areas like Babusar Top experiencing significant temperature drops.
AZAD JAMMU KASHMIR
A devastating cloudburst triggered floods in Muzaffarabad, resulting in three women drowning and a man missing. The flood washed away homes and property in Balgran village, with victims including 75-year-old Zaiwar Jan and her daughter Shireen Bibi. Rescue efforts are ongoing to locate the missing Jalal Deen.
