GUJRANWALA, May 22: Nine people were killed and over two dozen were injured on Monday after rainstorm with winds of up to 113 kilometres an hour lashed several cities in central Punjab. Widespread damage was reported to electricity and telephone infrastructure in Gujranwala and Lahore. Casualties were mainly caused by the collapse of buildings and falling billboards. Strong storms also paralysed life in Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Kasur and several other towns.
Eight people were killed in Gujranwala, which was the hardest hit. Five people were killed and several others were injured after a commercial building collapsed in the Shaheenabad area.
A high school teacher from Rahwali was killed at the intermediate education board office as he marked matric exam answer sheets.
He was hit by shards of glass after powerful winds smashed windowpanes. He was taken to the civil hospital but did not survive because of the severity of injuries.
A girl was killed in Ballaywala when the roof of her house collapsed.
The rain, which started at 6pm, lasted an hour and flooded all streets in Gujranwala.
In Lahore, a woman was killed and 13 others were injured.
