Three die as heavy rain breaks heatwave across Punjab

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 A dust storm preceding rain lashes the city, bringing about relief from scorching sun. — White Star
A dust storm preceding rain lashes the city, bringing about relief from scorching sun. — White Star

LAHORE: Heavy rain, followed by a windstorm, lashed the city, ended the scorching heatwave and brought relief to the Lahorites, reducing the temperature on Thursday evening.

The residents of Lahore as well as other parts of Punjab had been enduring scorching weather conditions during the last several days. The Lahorites welcomed the sudden change as the rain began to hit various parts of the city, including Gulberg, Johar Town, Kot Lakhpat, Township, Ferozepur Road and Model Town.

Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds hit multiple areas which ended the heatwave. Intermittent rain was also reported around Ferozepur Road, at Kalma Chowk, Ichhra, Muslim Town, Wahdat Road, Garden Town, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Gulberg, Faisal Town, Canal Road, Allama Iqbal Town, and surroundings of the Nishtar Park Sports Complex.

However, the sudden rain caused damages too as three people died and seven were injured in Lahore and Narowal. A motorcyclist was killed when a tree fell on him on the Canal Road near Harbanspura. The victim was identified as Akmal resident of Imamia Colony. He was going alone when the tree fell on him during the rain.Traffic movement in several parts of the city was severely affected due to the rain. Long queues of vehicles were witnessed on the Ferozepur Road, Jail Road and in the DHA and Gulberg areas.

One death in Lahore, two in Narowal; seven injured

NAROWAL: Two people died and seven were injured due to strong winds and lightning that hit Narowal, Shakargarh, Zafarwal and surrounding areas. With strong winds, trees, electric wires, walls and solar panels on roofs of houses and animal shelters fell to the ground.

Due to heavy rain, one to three feet of water accumulated on the streets and roads in Narowal city. The rain continued for about 45 minutes and disrupted power system. The city and surrounding villages plunged into darkness after all the feeders of Gepco Narowal were shut down. The power supply could not be restored even after several hours when this story was filed.

Hurmat Ali, the spokesperson for Rescue 1122 Narowal, told Dawn 13-year-old Hanzala Salman died after being struck by lightning at village Maan, tehsil Zafarwal while 17-year-old Shazeb Asif died at Maan Jatan near Sankhatra due to a lightning strike.

The solar panels of a petrol pump near Shakargarh Road, Kartarpur, were uprooted by strong winds. Muhammad Waqas, 32, and Mujahid, 25, were seriously injured after being hit by a solar panel. Shahid, 65, was seriously injured when a wall collapsed on him as he was feeding animals in Khanowal village. Rescuers shifted him to the hospital. Muhammad Naeem, Anwar, Shahrzad and Muhammad Salam have also been injured in various rain-related incidents.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2026

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