PESHAWAR: A powerful windstorm swept through the provincial capital on Tuesday afternoon, causing the death of a police official in a tree fall.

Strong winds also blew in other parts of the province. However, no damage to public life or property was reported.

Farmanullah suffered injuries, while some vehicles were damaged as a tree fell on them at the Malik Saad Shaheed police lines, according to a statement issued by the Peshawar city police.

It added that strong winds uprooted the tree.

The police said that their injured official was rushed to the hospital, but he died due to critical injuries.

They said that Farmanullah worked in the office of the deputy superintendent of police (security).

Meanwhile, strong winds also caused the suspension of electric supply for several hours in several parts of the provincial capital.

In a statement, the Peshawar Electric Supply Company said that the Hayatabad and Jamrud grid stations developed faults due to the windstorm.

It added that those areas were immediately shifted to the Regi Model Town grid station, and power supply was restored.

The power utility, however, said that the shifting of Jamrud and Hayatabad areas to the Regin Model Town grid station could cause overloading of the power system, which was likely to lead to “forced load management” in those areas.

It urged its consumers in the region to “consume power conservatively to ensure that the system isn’t overburdened.”

On the other hand, a Pakistan Meteorological Department official told Dawn that powerful winds of up to 35 konts were reported in the provincial capital during Tuesday’s windstorm.

“Strong winds blew in Peshawar, Kohat, and other plain areas in our province. The windstorm was possibly caused by the intense heat,” he said.

The official said that the provincial capital and other plain areas in the province were likely to witness windstorms today (Wednesday) as well.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2024