LAHORE, May 22: A 113-kilometre velocity dust storm, which was followed by rain, lashed the city on Monday evening, damaging power and telecommunication infrastructure.

The strong winds also uprooted trees, billboards and hoardings in some areas, causing injuries to many. A woman also lost her life when a run-down building collapsed.

The city temperature came down to a minimum 28 degree oC on Monday evening from the day’s maximum temperature of 38 degree oC.

The meteorological office forecast rainy and windy weather for the next 24 hours in Punjab.

According to the Met office, a low-pressure situation over Balochistan and upper NWFP could generate more winds and rains in the country.

It was the third storm in the month of May which produced 3.4 millimetre rain in the city. The wind velocity was 70 kilometres in the residential areas while it was 113 kilometres in the open areas.

Lahorites experienced power fluctuations and outages immediately after the dust storm.

“This is an established fact now and every one knows that power will go once there is a storm or rain,” says a city dweller. Though the Lahore Electric Supply Company has been under intense media and political pressure for the last month or so, the situation has not yet improved, he said, adding one had no idea what kind of weather suited our national power suppliers. —Staff Reporter