Pakistan witnessed a series of deadly lightning strikes and heavy rainfalls on Monday morning, killing 12 people and injuring 15 others. The severe weather conditions came ahead of the expected monsoon season, which usually starts in July.
Most of the casualties occurred in Punjab, where 10 people — including children — lost their lives due to lightning in Narowal, Pasrur, Sheikupura, and Sialkot. Seven others were wounded by the electric shocks.
Lahore also faced power outages and flooded roads as 150 power feeders tripped due to heavy rainfall. Many other parts of the province experienced severe rains, causing inconvenience and disruption for the citizens.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a woman died and six others injured when the roof of their house collapsed in Buner’s Takhta Band village due to rain. Shabqadar, Swat, Charsadda, Mansehra, Lower Dir, Swabi, and North Waziristan also received heavy rains.
Balochistan’s Shela Bagh, Toba Achakzai, Musa Khel, Ziarat Valley, Noshki, and Washuk also witnessed rainfall, resulting in overflowing streams. Several cities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including Muzaffarabad, also received rainfall.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast more rain/wind-thundershower (with few heavy falls) in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Swat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Kurram, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Mianwali, Sargodha, Hafizabad, MB Din, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh from June 24 (night) to June 30 with occasional gaps.
Rain/wind-thundershower with isolated heavy falls also expected in Barkhan, Loralai, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Kalat, Khuzdar, Zhob, Ziarat, Musaakhel, D I Khan, Karak, Waziristan, D G khan, Rajanpur, Multan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara from June 26-29, and in Sukkur, Jacobabad and Larkana on June 27-28.
The PMD also said that the heat wave conditions that prevailed in some parts of the country would likely subside during the forecast period. The PMD warned that heavy rainfall may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore on June 26 and 27 and may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Heavy rain may also cause flash flooding in hill torrents of D G Khan and adjoining areas of north-east Balochistan on June 27. The PMD advised all concerned authorities to remain alert and to take necessary precautionary measures during the forecast period.
