Massive thunderstorm hammers twin cities

ISLAMABAD: A severe thunderstorm hammered the twin cities on Wednesday night, resulting in the death of five people and injuring dozens more.

The storm disrupted power supply, uprooted hundreds of trees, damaged houses, tore down hoarding and billboards, within a span of less than an hour.

Police said a roof collapsed in Margallah town which resulted in the death of two minor girls and their mother. Two siblings died in Qasimabad area of Rawalpindi after the roof of their house caved in.

The gusty winds sweeping across the twin cities blew at an average speed of 120 km/h. The storm also destroyed several vehicles and electricity poles. Many areas of the twin cities remained without electricity.

Many pedestrians were also injured due to falling trees and signboards.

Domestic flights were suspended at Benazir International Airport. The storm lasted for 30 minutes.

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mahmood

Jun 02, 2016 12:21am

why the met/ forecasting deptt did not caution the public in advance/time ? they must not make lame excuses now .will some one ask their explanation and punish the culprits ?

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M.Saeed

Jun 02, 2016 12:51am

@mahmood : Even the BBC weather and Accuweather, the world's most reliable sites were silent about this sudden attack of storm and thunderstorm!

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Muhammad Mohiuddin Wajid

Jun 02, 2016 01:28am

This should be an eye opener for the authorities in Karachi which has become a jungle of haphazard bill boards.

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Jun 02, 2016 01:28am

Storms are sudden, it is understandable sometimes, but now a days you can tell either the weather will be bad or not ahead of time. Yes, one cannot control after damage because that is nature. We do not want better weather forecast services, we need highways and orange train to show the world that we are prosperous country. Guess what our so called democratic politicians brains does not go beyond roads an highways.

Recommend 0

Jun 02, 2016 01:43am

Seems like most damage has been done due to gigantic billboards. Their quality is getting poorer as greed gets the better of owners and installers.

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Jun 02, 2016 01:47am

Billboards Billboards Billboards falling everywhere! Why have so many billboards when they're such a life hazard

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liaqat

Jun 02, 2016 04:09pm

Give me news

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Sana ullah khan

Jun 02, 2016 04:11pm

Well keep it up.

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Saeed Ahmad Sultan

Jun 02, 2016 04:32pm

You are giving me the details of current issues of the time and country.

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naseem ahmed

Jun 02, 2016 05:04pm

Love for all hatred for none

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Arslan

Jun 02, 2016 07:11pm

Very sad

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Fezan Rafique

Jun 02, 2016 10:53pm

Bill boards should be banned through out the country, they made a great damage in Karachi in 2007

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SyedChaudhryGangaDinKhan

Jun 03, 2016 09:18am

Indiscriminate and unplanned building all over with no preparation for a disaster like this.

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Unshackle Pakistan

Jun 03, 2016 09:32am

@Muhammad Mohiuddin Wajid Many bill boards fell on roads in Karachi in 2006 due to high wind intensity. This had resulted in a number of deaths and injuries, besides damage to many vehicles. Decision was taken by the local administration to remove all large sized bill bill boards but nothing happened thereafter. It only proved that we as a nation only wait for accidents to happen.

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Ibneadam

Jun 03, 2016 03:24pm

@mahmood Agreed, In the event of thunderstorm and extreme weathers the Met department should issue a warning. In advanced countries that warning is issued atleast 2-3 day in advance in the potential affected cities so that the damage can be reduced. The people who lost their life or properties should sue the department and the Govt. should block the salaries of Met department for one month and use this money to recover the damages and reconstruct the roads and Govt. buildings.

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aam admi

Jun 03, 2016 05:17pm

The storm disrupted power supply,where is power .only wires no supply.

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zararyounis

Jun 04, 2016 11:22am

ban on billboards

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Shaikh IMSA

Jun 04, 2016 06:01pm

@Muhammad Mohiuddin Wajid It happened in Islamabad/ Rawalpindi. Not in karachi. Let it be eye opener for twin cities first.

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Shaikh IMSA

Jun 04, 2016 06:03pm

Question is who is responsible for placing such a gigantic bill-boards. What laws govern such high rise bill-boards and which Ministry is responsible. Who are profit makers and to whom to charge?

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Chandra

Jun 04, 2016 09:03pm

standards should be applied to with stand such storm by the mounted billboards.

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