TOBA TEK SINGH: Heavy rains across Punjab on Saturday resulted in multiple roof collapses and widespread flooding, causing damage and loss of life.

In Faisalabad, four people died and several others were injured. The devastating weather also affected Bahawalpur, Multan, Muzaffargarh, and Chiniot.

In Faisalabad’s Chak 431-GB, Burala, a mud house’s roof collapsed, killing Abida,. In Feidmic, a concrete building material factory suffered a roof collapse, killing three labourers—Rizwan Muhammadullah, 49, from South Waziristan, and Wasif, 18, and Musawar, 30, both from Kotaddu. Rasheed, 55, from Sahiwal, was injured and taken to Allied Hospital.

In Asgharabad on the Narwala-Aminpur bypass, a roof collapse injured Sajida, 40, her son Rizwan, 18, and daughter Hira, 15.

Two others, Sumaira, 36, and her nephew Ali Haider, 17, were seriously injured on Chak Jhumra Road and shifted to the DHQ Hospital.

In Haveli Bahadur Shah on Multan Road, Jhang, Haleema Bibi, 10, Ayesha Bibi, 8, and their brother Abdul Sattar, 5, were injured.

BAHAWALPUR: Three people - Saleem, 18, Sajjad, 34, and Rabia, 16 – were injured when a roof collapsed at Labana Chowk near a local grid station.

They were taken to Bahawal Victoria Hospital.

Heavy rains on Friday and Saturday submerged low-lying areas in Bahawalpur, Multan, and Vehari.

In Multan, rainfall reached record levels over the past 30 years, with 133 millimetres recorded in Kari Jamandan. Areas, such as Bohar Gate and Shaheen Market, were heavily flooded.

MUZAFFARGARH: Two children were injured when a roof collapsed in Basti Rajuwala. Muhammad Arslan, 10, and Aliza, 3, were taken to the Muzaffargarh District Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

CHINIOT: Torrential rains on Friday and Saturday caused roof collapses in five villages, injuring eight people.

In Wallah Rai village, Muhammad Nawaz was injured, while Kashif Nadeem and his wife, Nighat Bibi, were hurt in Amrood Colony. Saleem, from Minara Addah, and Muhammad Ali, his wife Khurshid Bibi, and daughter Zubaida Bibi from Mauza Chak Bandi also sustained injuries. Altaf Hussain from Darutta Kharlan was injured as well.

The affected were treated at Bhowana THQ Hospital and Chiniot DHQ Hospital. Urban flooding affected Chiniot, disrupting daily life and prompting the establishment of flood relief camps in anticipation of rising water levels in the Chenab River.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2024