LAHORE: A severe storm accompanied by scattered rains swept through parts of Punjab, including Gujranwala, Narowal and Khushab, on Wednesday leaving six people killed and 40 injured.

In Gujranwala, four people were killed, including two children, while seven others were injured due to the collapse of walls and roofs. The heavy storm and rain led to the collapse of several signboards, walls, and roofs, resulting in the deaths and injuries.

In Narowal, strong winds and storms caused walls, trees, and electricity poles to fall, injuring 30 people, including women.

The power system was suspended, and dozens of trees and billboards fell due to the storm. The wall of a government school in Ahmedabad town collapsed.

In Sialkot, 13 people were injured due to strong winds and storms.

Rains and hailstorms in Khushab district caused havoc, killing two brothers, Amir Khan (15) and Zahid Khan (18), due to lightning strikes. Their father, Mubarak Khan, was admitted to hospital.

In Lahore and other cities, a dust storm accompanied by scattered showers brought the mercury down providing a temporary relief to citizens from the heatwave. The highest temperature in the city was recorded at 41 and minimum 28 degrees Celsius.

The Met office says dust-raising winds to be followed by light rains are likely to hit many Punjab towns during the next three days under the impact of a westerly wave affecting upper and central parts of the country.

More rain-windstorm/thunderstorm is expected in upper/central Punjab, Potohar region, Islamabad, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Dry weather is likely to prevail elsewhere in the country.

More rain-windstorm/thunderstorm are expected at isolated places in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha and Mianwali, a Met office report said.

On Thursday, the weather is expected to be mainly hot and dry in most districts of the province. However, rain and thunderstorm are expected at isolated places.

(Akram Malik from Gujranwala, Abid Mahmood from Narowal and Sajjad Abbas Niazi from Sargodha contributed to this story)

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2024