12 dead, 27 injured in rain-related incidents in Punjab

LAHORE: Twelve people died and 27 others were injured while 14 houses collapsed due to heavy rains on Saturday in various parts of the Punjab province.

The victims include five children, three women, and four men, while three others died after being struck by lightning in Narowal and Multan districts, revealed a fact sheet released by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued on July 13.

The document states that 21 people died, 64 were injured, and 35 houses were damaged during the monsoon rains across the province since June 30. The government has announced plans to provide financial assistance to the affected families.

The PDMA has issued an alert stating more monsoon rains will fall across the province till July 15. It said that heavy rain was recorded in Lahore, Sargodha, Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad, Kot Addu and Bahawalpur.

It added the rains raised the water level in rivers, barrages and dams of Punjab but the water flow is still normal. The water level in Mangla Dam is 53% and in Tarbela it is 74% while in Indian dams on Sutlej, Beas and Ravi across the border, the level is up to 37%.

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said arrangements had been completed in view of the flood risk in vulnerable districts. He said flood relief camps have been set up in the mountains in view of the threat of flood and there is a fear of urban flooding in Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Gujranwala.

He said the administration of big cities is alert in view of the emergency situation while the PDMA Control Room and District Emergency Operation Centres are monitoring the situation round the clock.

DG PDMA has issued instructions to the WASA administration to ensure drainage of water from the low-lying areas, saying that management should ensure the elimination of encroachments from the water streams, rivers and canals.