News
Rains bring havoc in Punjab, KP: 25 killed
* Several houses collapse; communication links disrupted
* Army on alert in wake of likely flooding in Nullah Lai in RawalpindiISLAMABAD/LAHORE/ PESHAWAR/MUZAFFARABAD: Heavy rains lashed various parts of the country, wreaking havoc and claiming the lives of more than 25 people. Women and children were among those who were killed in incidents of roof and wall collapses, land sliding and road accidents. Meanwhile, dozens of people were injured. Rains and snow in mountainous areas of the north adversely disputed the road and communication links, cutting several areas from the rest of the country. Army and locals administration were alerted in the wake of likely flooding in Nullah Lai of Rawalpindi, as rising water level inundated several low-lying areas situation nearby. As many as four people were killed and about 18 others injured as a two-storey building of a marriage hall on Taxila Road collapsed. Rescue personnel dug out the bodies of those killed and injured from the debris and shifted them to hospital. More causalities were feared as the condition of some more injured people was stated to be serious. Four FC personnel on security duty died and three others sustained wounds when then dilapidated roof of their police picket in Matni area of Peshawar suddenly came down due to heavy rain. A young girl lost her life, while her sister was injured in Gujranwala in a roof cave-in incident. Three people who were sleeping in a temporary cattle yard near a matchbox factory in Shahdara area of Lahore were trapped under the rubble when the roof collapsed due to heavy rain. The accident claimed the lives of 60-year old Idrees and 55-year old Saif, whereas 35-year-old Naseer got severely injured. The rescue teams pulled out the bodies and injured and shifted them to the hospital. In Donga Bonga, roof of a house collapsed, killing one person. One person each was also killed in Talagang and Kasur due to collapse of their houses’ roofs due to incessant rains. Meanwhile, heavy rain-related accident in Karak killed a minor girl and injured two women of the same family. The roof of their house caved in when the family members were resting. Also in Mohmand Agency, two children and a woman were killed while two children got injured in a roof collapse. Children were critically injured in the accident that happened in Jangal Khel area of Kohat. At least six people were reported killed in different areas of Sindh and Balochistan in rain-related incidents. Pakistan Army was alerted in the wake of likely flooding in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The water level in the Nullah Lai has risen above 16 feet. The ditches dug for the Metro Bus Project on Murree Road and in Islamabad have now become water pools. The administration fired up emergency sirens after the water level in Nullah Lai rose above 16 feet. People residing in the adjoining areas have been instructed to shift to safe places. The roof of parliament has also started dripping due to excessive rains. Moreover, the roads in the twin cities were flooded due to which traffic flow was affected. Incessant rain and snowfall in mountainous areas of upcountry adversely disrupted roads and communication links. Several areas were cut of from the rest of the country due to the closure of roads by landslides and snowfall.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk