Three children were killed and another injured when dilapidated roof of a house collapsed due to heavy rain in Lahore on Friday.
According to details, after being lashed by heavy rain, roof of a house located in village Kahna Saraich of Lahore.
As a result of roof collapse, eight-month-old Tayyeb was killed on the spot while five-year-old Irum, 7-year-old Manahil, and 17-year-old Ramazana were critically injured.
The injured were rushed to hospital where Irum and Manahil succumbed to their wounds taking death toll to three.
Rescue officials said a roof-collapse incident reported at 10:16am in the Kahna area claimed the lives of the three children. One of them died on the spot, while two were critically injured who were taken to a nearby hospital but couldn’t survive.
Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, in a statement, expressed sorrow over the death of the three minors and sought a report into the incident from the authorities concerned.
According to Rescue 1122, five roof-collapse incidents were reported in total in which three children died and seven others injured.
The incidents were reported in Wahga Village, Jhodhu Village Raiwind, Old Kahna Main Bazar and Chamra Mandi.
In addition, at least 25 people were injured in 52 road accidents caused by rains across the Punjab capital.
Meanwhile, the chief minister directed authorities to drain out rainwater “as soon as possible”. He also called upon officials to take measures for ensuring smooth traffic flow across the city.
Met officials said the rain started at 7:07am and continued till the afternoon. The maximum rainfall was recorded in the Lakhsmi area at 138 millimetres, followed by Tajpura 117mm, Farrukhabad 109mm and Pani Wala Tailab 99mm.
Moreover, more than 220 feeders of the Lahore Electricity Supply Corporation have tripped due to the heavy rain severely affecting Lahore’s power transmission system.
Officials at the power utility said the heavy rain also caused difficulties for ground staff in carrying out maintenance work.
Meanwhile, water levels reached their highest recored value in in Nullah Leh and while it receded late on Friday evening, all operational wings of the local administration will remain on high alert as the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast more rains during next 24 hours.
The district government had clamped emergency and alerted its all concerned departments to meet with any eventuality following heavy rainfall on Friday morning.
According to the PMD, in afternoon spell, the city received around 35 mm of rainfall while its surrounding parts (catchment areas of Leh) had received over 82 mm of rainfall.
The water level had surged to 19 feet near New Katarian and 12.5 feet under while sirens would have to be blown to alert the people living in low-lying areas If it crossed the 20 feet level at Katarian bridge.
Talking to APP, Managing Director Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) Awais Manzoor Tarrar said rainwater had submerged in low-lying areas near Katarian, Javed Colony, Aryan Mohallah, Gawalmandi, Millat Colony,Mohallah Workshpee, Gawala road, Ratta Amral, Dhoke Ratta, Phagwari and Mohllah Raja Sultan.
He said the rainwater had entered the various houses in low-lying areas where RWMC along with all operational wings remained actively engaged to clear the area.
Commissioner Syed Gulzar Hussain shah along with others officials visited different sections of the Nullah Leh and monitored the water situation.
He also directed MD WASA,RWMC and Chief Officer Municipal Corporation Ali Abass to ensure close coordination with all departments concerned for effective rescue and relief operation.
