CHAKWAL: Two men lost their lives after getting struck by a lightning while 17 others were injured in separate weather-related incidents here on Monday.

The torrential rain coupled with heavy hailstorm and windstorm sent a wave of shock among farmers whose wheat crop has been affected by rain and hailstorm.

The first incident occurred on Lahore-Islamabad Motorway near Balkassar Interchange when a passenger bus overturned due to the slippery road. As a result, 15 passengers were injured.

The injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital by Rescue 1122 and Frontier Works Organisation.

According to a spokesman for Rescue 1122, the bus was on its way to Rawalpindi from Sargodha.

The second incident occurred in Adlaka village of tehsil Talagang where a labourer was killed and two other persons were injured after getting hit by a lightning. Lightning also claimed another life in Christian Colony of Chakwal city. The deceased was identified as Salman Sabir, 20.

In Dhalal village, Nazia Batool, 25, was also struck by lightning which left her leg paralysed.

According to Assistant Director Chakwal Agriculture Department Dr Mohammad Khalid, 80pc of wheat crop in the district has been harvested but the freak weather damaged the remaining crop in tehsil Chakwal.

“The actual damage would be assessed within a couple of days but one thing is clear that heavy rainfall coupled with a hailstorm has damaged wheat crop which is still to be harvested.”

Pakistan Meteorological Department in a statement on Monday warned of more rain and dust-thunderstorm during the current week.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2019