GUJRANWALA, Feb 19: At least 31 people, including women and children, were injured when their houses were collapsed by rain and gale in Baha, Saeen, Jamke Chattha in Wazirabad tehsil on Wednesday.

The gale and storm lashed the village, blowing away the roofs of houses and uprooting trees. As a result, 21 people were injured when the debris of houses fell on them.

The injured were rushed to the tehsil headquarters hospital, Wazirabad, in critical condition.

Meanwhile, the district administration has taken steps to protect the lives of the affected people who have been put up in relief centres established in the tehsil.

On the other hand, the district administration called army help to save lives of about two dozen farmers in Chenab riverside through boats, who had been marooned there due to rising water level at Khanki Head.