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| September 5, 2002 | Thursday | Jamadi-us-Saani26,1423 |
Two killed as thunderstorm hits Pindi, Islamabad
RAWALPINDI, Sept 4: Two persons were killed and more than two dozens injured in the thunderstorm which hit the twin cities in the early hours of Wednesday, destroying a number of vehicles, signboards and trees.
According to police, Mohammad Ismail was killed and his grandson, Mohammad Amin, injured when the roof of their house collapsed in Ratta area.
In the second incident, a 12-year-old scavenger was electrocuted in Lalazar Colony, witnesses said.
The victim, identified as Zainul Abideen, was picking papers from a garbage dump along Tulsa Road when he came in contact with an electric wire lying near the garbage dump.
Besides, more than two dozen people were injured in the rain which also destroyed several vehicles and electricity poles. Many areas of the twin cities remained without electricity.
Besides, pedestrians, some employees of Iesco were also injured as a result of falling trees and signboards.
About five persons, who sustained minor injuries, were treated at the RGH while half a dozen cases were reported at Pims.
Many domestic flights were suspended because of the fierce storm. There was also flood-like situation in some low-lying areas, which forced people to move to the roof-tops.
Meanwhile, an unidentified person, said to be an addict, was found dead in Sadiqabad area. However, the police could not ascertain the cause of his death.
OUR REPORTER ADDS: According to the Meteorological Office, the speed of the storm was 168 km/hour in Rawalpindi and 132 to 140 km/hour in Islamabad.
Similarly, rainfall in Rawalpindi and Islamabad was recorded at 50mm and 37mm respectively.
The Met office spokesman told this reporter that the duration of the storm was recorded between 45 minutes to one hour at different places and considered dangerous in terms of its period.
Normally, such a storm with this intensity continues for 10 to 15 minutes in Rawalpindi-Islamabad region but this time, it lasted for an hour, he said.
The spokesman said monsoon was likely to continue till the middle of September. He said the storm also disrupted telephone and power lines in certain areas of the twin cities.
PPI ADDS: Wapda declared emergency after 117 and 11 KV feeders were damaged. Power supply from 68 feeders was restored by 9am, 33 feeders by 12pm while supply from 16 feeders was restored in the evening.
The Met Office has predicted more rains in twin cities in the next 24 hours.
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