Heavy rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms battered several cities across Punjab and Islamabad on Thursday, disrupting daily life, halting sports activities, and affecting air travel.
In Lahore, multiple areas, including Gulberg, The Mall road, Davies Road, and Ferozwala, experienced drizzle followed by strong, dusty winds, which blew at a speed of 24 kilometres per hour, according to the Met Department. Temperatures dropped to 30°C, offering brief respite from the ongoing heatwave.
The storm damaged power infrastructure, with multiple LESCO feeders tripping, resulting in widespread electricity outages across the city.
PSL match affected
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) training session of Peshawar Zalmi at LCCA Ground was also disrupted. Strong winds tore apart the training nets, forcing players to leave practice and return to the dressing room. The match between Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators at Gaddafi Stadium was temporarily stopped due to unsafe weather conditions.
In nearby Muridke and Ferozwala, heavy rain coupled with strong winds led to power outages and pleasant weather, breaking the intensity of the heat. Several feeders tripped, compounding electricity supply issues in suburban areas.
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In Muridke, the roof of a house collapsed in the Islampura area due to rain and strong winds. Rescue officials said five people were injured in the incident and shifted to THQ Hospital. The injured were identified as Tahira, Iman, Muqaddas, Basheeran, Sher Ali. A seriously injured woman has been referred to Lahore in critical condition.
In Jhelum, the roofs of houses collapsed at two separate locations due to heavy rainfall, injuring four people trapped under the debris. The injured were shifted to Pind Dadan Khan Hospital, according to rescue sources. Two of the people were injured when the roof of a dilapidated house collapsed in the Khair Shah neighbourhood, while in the second incident, a mother and her son were injured after the roof of their house collapsed in Khewra.
In Sargodha's Islampura area, the wall of a house collapsed during the storm, injuring four children. The children were playing on the roof when the upper floor wall suddenly fell on them, rescue officials said. The injured children were immediately taken to DHQ Hospital for medical assistance.
Alert issued
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a weather alert for various districts of Punjab, including Lahore. The PDMA director general instructed all deputy commissioners and relevant departments to remain vigilant and prepared for emergency responses.
“Rain and storm activity is likely to continue across Punjab until May 4,” the PDMA spokesperson stated, adding that district emergency centres and the provincial control room are on 24-hour alert.
Heavy rain, storms batter Islamabad, Rawalpindi
Severe weather conditions, including heavy rain, hailstorms, and strong winds, lashed Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and several other cities across Pakistan on Thursday evening, disrupting power supply, damaging infrastructure, and leaving multiple people injured.
In Rawalpindi, power supply to several areas was suspended as feeders in Sadiqabad, Fourth Road, Range Road Dhok, Zeeshan Colony, Kaliam, Chaklala, and Shamsabad tripped due to the storm. Similar issues were reported in Islamabad, where feeders such as Pir Sohawa, G-8 Markaz, Bani Gala, and New Malpur were affected. IESCO field teams are actively working to restore electricity, said a spokesperson.
According to the Islamabad Police, tragedy struck in Sector G-12 when the roof of an under-construction house collapsed due to heavy rain and winds, killing two workers and injuring two others. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital.
In Rawalpindi’s Dhok Khaba, another under-construction house’s wall collapsed, injuring two individuals. Rescue teams responded promptly, and the victims were also hospitalized.
Falling trees and iron sheets added to the damage across both cities. A tree fell on the Islamabad Police Headquarters during the storm, injuring a policeman named Waheed. In Saddar, Rawalpindi, strong winds blew off metal sheets from rooftops, damaging several vehicles and motorcycles.
The Met Department recorded 8mm rainfall in Saidpur and Shamsabad, and 7mm in Golra. PMD also warned that more rain, hailstorms, and thunderstorms are expected in upper parts of the country over the next 24 hours, including Murree, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Swat, Abbottabad, Peshawar, and Quetta.
A rain emergency was declared in Rawalpindi. WASA’s managing director confirmed that teams are on high alert with heavy machinery deployed to monitor the situation. The water level in Nullah Leh remained within safe limits -- five feet at Katarian and four feet at Gowalmandi.
Also Read: Heavy rain, storms batter Islamabad, Rawalpindi and northern Pakistan
In Haripr's upper Khanpur area, rescue officials said the wall of a house collapsed, trapping three children under the debris. One child was confirmed dead, while the other two were seriously injured. The deceased and injured children shifted to hospital for treatment.
In Bhimber Azad Kashmir, heavy rainfall caused power outages in several areas, while a severe dust storm hit Jand and Attock, followed by rain and thunder that darkened skies. Moreover, severe storm and hail hit Rawalakot and surrounding areas, causing widespread power outages. A youth reportedly died after being struck by lightning during the storm.
Flights disrupted
In the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, stormy weather and rain caused major disruptions to flight operations. A PIA flight (PK308) from Karachi to Islamabad was diverted to Multan Airport after circling Islamabad for several minutes due to poor visibility and high winds. Over 150 passengers were onboard, according to airline sources.
Flight operations at Islamabad Airport remained sluggish, with at least 13 flights delayed. Authorities advised passengers to confirm flight schedules before leaving for the airport.
The Met Department has forecast continued rainfall and thunderstorms across central and northern Pakistan over the next 12 to 48 hours, urging citizens to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel during inclement weather.
