19 dead, 90 injured in Punjab; infrastructure, crops damaged; widespread outages reported
ISLAMABAD / LAHORE / PESHAWAR – Fierce windstorms, hailstorms, and heavy rain swept across much of the country on Saturday, leaving at least 19 people dead and over 90 injured. The severe weather caused major disruptions in air and road traffic, damaged homes and power lines, and triggered widespread blackouts.
Islamabad was hit by gusty winds and heavy rain, leading to waterlogging in low-lying areas and uprooted trees across the city.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the storm damaged crops and power infrastructure but no fatalities were reported. Over 113 power feeders tripped across the province, with Peshawar, Mardan, Khyber, Swabi, Swat, and Abbottabad among the hardest hit.
A Karachi-to-Lahore flight faced severe turbulence while attempting to land at Allama Iqbal International Airport, narrowly avoiding disaster.
Casualties and Damage in Punjab
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Rescue 1122, three people died each in Lahore and Jhelum, two each in Sialkot and Muzaffargarh, and one each in Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Attock, Multan, Rajanpur, Hafizabad, Mianwali, Jhang, and Layyah. Most casualties resulted from the collapse of walls and roofs or falling trees.
Around two dozen reports of falling solar panels and billboards also came in. A PDMA report at 10pm put the death toll at 13, but additional deaths reported by other sources pushed the total higher.
The PDMA had earlier urged citizens and district authorities to stay on high alert. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia instructed deputy commissioners and rescue teams to remain vigilant amid the severe weather.
Transport Disruptions and Power Outages
Motorway Police closed parts of the M2, M3, and Lahore-Sialkot motorways for safety. Low visibility and thunderstorms disrupted traffic on M4 and M5 motorways as well as major highways linking Lahore to Multan.
In south Punjab, the Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) reported widespread faults across its grid, causing temporary blackouts in Multan, Khanewal, Vehari, and Sahiwal.
Lahore’s Water and Sanitation Agency mobilized all available machinery to pump out water from flooded underpasses.
Tragic Incidents Across Punjab
The PDMA said most deaths in Punjab occurred in dilapidated structures or vulnerable areas. In Sheikhupura, a factory roof collapsed, killing a worker from Sadiqabad and injuring five others.
A labourer, Imtiaz Yaqoob, 52, died in Sood Gangal near Kallar Syedan Road when a wall of an under-construction house fell on him. In Fauji Colony, Rawalpindi, a man named Naseebullah, 60, succumbed to injuries after a wall collapse.
In Attock, a child was killed and six people—including a woman and her daughter—were injured when a wall fell in Mithial village, according to Rescue 1122. Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed said medical aid would be provided to the injured.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts more rain and thunderstorms on Sunday across Punjab and KP, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Peshawar, and Mardan.
Extensive Damage in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa experienced extensive damage to crops and power lines, though no fatalities were reported. The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) said more than 113 feeders tripped, with 19 feeders affected each in Peshawar and Mardan, 13 in Khyber, 30 in Swabi, 13 in Swat, 15 in Abbottabad, and four in Mansehra.
Power supply in Peshawar cantonment was interrupted for hours as Pesco staff needed special permissions to carry out repairs in the area. Mingora, Amankot, Rahimabad, and Qambar also suffered severe damage, and residents called for rapid relief efforts.
In Mingora, flash floods from clogged drains flooded homes, forcing students to sit exams in darkness due to power outages. The temperature in Swat valley dropped to 20°C because of the storm.
Hailstorms in Ambar and Pandiali tehsils of Mohmand district damaged crops, while initial reports from remote areas confirmed uprooted trees and damaged slum houses, but no loss of life.
Tablighi Ijtema Disrupted
A powerful windstorm with light rain also interrupted the ongoing Tablighi Ijtema in the Baffa area, attended by hundreds of thousands from Hazara, Gilgit-Baltistan, and beyond. Despite the disruption, organisers expect an even bigger turnout for Sunday’s special prayers.
Flight Caught in Turbulence
The Karachi-Lahore flight FL-842 was forced to return to Karachi after experiencing extreme turbulence. Passengers, shaken by the jolts, refused to re-board, delaying the flight’s re-departure. Two other flights to Lahore were also diverted to Karachi due to poor visibility.
Once the storm subsided, operations at Lahore airport resumed, and flights PK-305 and PA-405 later departed for Karachi.
