May 28, 2002	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 15,1423

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LAHORE, May 27: A strong windstorm, followed by downpour, lashed the provincial metropolis on Monday night at a speed of 130km per hour, bringing down several trees and billboards besides causing city-wide power breakdowns.

The rain that started soon after the thunderstorm was continuing intermittently till the filing of this report at 12 midnight.

Soon after the start of windstorm, traffic on city roads almost suspended due to fallen trees. Some accidents were also reported from different parts of the city. Billboards also broke and fell down on roads and in different markets.

Most of the roads submerged under rainwater. Low-lying areas were the most affected parts of the city where streets and roads submerged under rainwater besides power breakdown.

Reports said several electric wires broke down in different parts of the city. The telecommunication system also developed some problems as subscribers reported disturbances in their telephones.

The local Met office recorded 31mm rain at the Lahore airport at 12 midnight. The rain was also reported in Faisalabad.

The Met office has predicted that the weather will remain partly cloudy with chances of dust, thunderstorm and rain on Tuesday.

Met officials said the maximum temperature in Lahore was reported at 39.3 degrees Celsius and minimum at 24.3 degrees Celsius. The humidity was 66 per cent in the morning and 48 per cent in the evening.

Multan was also hit by a strong windstorm recorded at a speed of 138.6km per hour. Falling of trees, signboards and power breakdowns were also reported.

FLIGHTS DELAYED: The strong windstorm also affected the air traffic as some flights were delayed while the others diverted.

Windowpanes of the airport tower also smashed due to the storm besides power breakdown at the airport.

It is learnt that PK-388 had left Multan for Lahore at 8:45pm but it had to go back due to strong wind. The flight is now scheduled to reach Lahore at 12:20am. The PK-615 scheduled to land at Lahore from Islamabad at 8:30pm was delayed till 12:30am. Similarly, the PK-616 flight’s departure from Lahore to Islamabad was delayed till 1am.

The PK-610, scheduled to leave for Peshawar at 7pm, was delayed till 12:45am. The PK-307 scheduled to take off for Karachi at 9:30pm was still at Lahore airport till the filing of this report at 12 midnight. Similarly, PK-221 scheduled for Dubai at 10:30pm was delayed till 1:30am.