July 16, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 30, 1428

SARGODHA, July 15: A child lost his life while about half-a-dozen people were injured, two of them seriously, when billboards, walls and projections of shops fell on them after a strong windstorm followed by heavy rain lashed the city on Sunday.

Reports said that a child, Karim, drowned in a pit dug up by the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) for sewerage in Block No 26. Despite repeated complaints by residents, the TMA paid no heed to fill the pit.

They demanded registration of a murder case against the TMA authorities. A billboard at the junction of Faisalabad-Lahore Road damaged three electricity poles that brought the traffic to a halt for a few hours.

Traffic on Lahore Road also remained suspended for around three hours due to the uprooting of trees and electricity poles. Despite public opposition, Cantonment and TMA authorities have permitted installation of billboards which are posing a threat to their life and property.

Some areas remained without power supply for some 24 hours.

Several low-lying areas, including Satellite Town, Link Club Road, Canal Park, were awash with rainwater.

SAHIWAL: Two persons were electrocuted in rain-related incidents here on Sunday. Reports said that Saeed (7), son of Mian Nasir of Bothna village, received a severe shock when he touched a live wire. He died on the spot.

Tenant Ahmed Bukhsh died instantly after he received a shock from wires of a tubewell in Chak 100/. Torrential rain also caused suspension of power supply for some six hours in Farid Town, Scheme No 2, Kot Allah Din and other areas.

The gusty wind also brought down a big tree that suspended traffic on Noorshah-Gamber Road for about four hours.

Several areas of the city, including Jahaz Ground, Kachi Abadi, Ghausia Colony and Kot Khadim Ali Shah, were flooded with rainwater.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Intense windstorm followed by heavy rain resulted in damaging of dozens of mud houses in villages and uprooting of several trees on the highway and link roads.

Reports said the rain continued for more than three hours that caused the suspension of power supply, which could not be restored even after 12 hours in some areas.