GUJRANWALA: Six persons, including two youngsters, were killed and five others, including a woman, were injured when lightning struck various parts of Punjab on Sunday, rescue officials said.
According to officials, two persons died on the spot as a result of lightning strikes in and near Narowal. They were identified as Muhammad Siddique, 70, of Ghaziwal Colony, and Bilal, 20, of Kanon village.
Naseer, 30, of village Kotli Ramdas, and Abdul Rahman, 22, of village Chailiwali were among those injured, they said. Four persons were killed and three others were injured in separate lightning strikes in Pasrur and Shikargarh, according to officials.
The injured received major burn injuries, according to rescue personnel, who added that they were referred to Lahore for further treatment after receiving first-aid at government hospitals in their localities.
The lightning strikes happened ahead of pre-monsoon rain warnings in numerous sections of the country. Heavy rain, said to Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, might create urban flooding and landslides in hilly areas.
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The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted scattered showers and thunderstorms in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) throughout the week till June 30.
Rain may also fall in Sindh, Balochistan, and Southern Punjab from June 26 to June 29. On June 27, flash floods were also expected in Dera Ghazi Khan and surrounding parts of northeast Balochistan.
The minister directed that all relevant departments remain vigilant and that tourists take prudence. “During strong winds and rains, citizens are advised to avoid weak infrastructure, power poles, and watercourses,” Rehman tweeted.
The PMD predicts blistering heat in the middle and upper parts of Sindh. It also mentioned the possibility of a duststorm or light rain in the Dadu, Kambar Shahdadkot, and Jacobabad districts in the evening.
According to the PMD’s latest weather forecast, there may be a few occurrences of light rain or drizzle overnight and in the early morning in the Tharparker district of Karachi and in the coastal districts.
Due to severe rains on June 26 and 27, the PMD issued a warning about potential urban flooding in low-lying districts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore.
On June 27, it also warned of flash flooding caused by hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and Balochistan. It warned of the likelihood of landslides in sensitive places such as Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, and the K-P’s hilly terrain.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued safety instructions to inhabitants, particularly in mountainous locations where glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) were possible.
