LAHORE: At least two people lost their lives while nine others were injured in separate rain-related incidents across Punjab over the past 24 hours, according to Rescue 1122 on Thursday.
Punjab Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad said the casualties were caused by the collapse of walls, roofs and a billboard following strong winds and heavy rainfall in different parts of the province.
In Attock, two people were killed and three others were injured when a wall collapsed near Naya Pump. In another incident in the Para Shaheen Bagh area, three people sustained injuries after the roof of a house caved in.
Meanwhile, one person was injured after being struck by lightning in the Qaidabad area of Khushab. In Sargodha, another person suffered injuries when a signboard fell due to strong winds.
A separate incident was reported from Sheikhupura, where a wooden roof collapsed on Chak Risala Road, leaving one person injured. Rescue 1122 said its emergency teams responded promptly to all incidents and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Mandi Bahauddin received the highest rainfall during the three-hour period from 8pm to 11pm on Wednesday, recording 23 millimetres. Murree received 17mm of rain, while Hafizabad and Sheikhupura each recorded 14mm.
Other areas also experienced rainfall, although in smaller amounts. Gujranwala, Lahore Airport, Gujrat and Garhi Dupatta each received 10mm, followed by Lahore and Jhelum with 6mm each. Mangla recorded 5mm, while Kakul, Balakot, Barkhan, Islamabad’s Zero Point and Chaklala each received 4mm. Kotli and Malam Jabba recorded 3mm each, whereas Pattan, Chakwal and Dera Ghazi Khan received 1mm of rainfall each.
Earlier this week, the PMD announced that a fresh spell of monsoon rains is expected to begin across the country during the first week of July.
The monsoon season, which lasts from June to September, provides much-needed relief from intense summer temperatures and plays a vital role in replenishing water resources. However, heavy rains frequently cause floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, densely populated and poorly drained areas.