At least 14 individuals lost their lives due to lightning strikes in Balochistan and Punjab amid heavy rainfall over the weekend, as reported by Geo News, quoting officials.
Officials stated that four individuals succumbed to lightning strikes in Surab, Dera Bugti, and Pishin districts of Balochistan following the arrival of westerly waves in the province. In Surab district, two youths, Farid Ahmed and Jabir Ahmed, were struck by lightning while sitting in a garden in the Tanak area, resulting in their immediate demise, with another person sustaining injuries. Additionally, one fatality was reported in Pishin district and another in Dera Bugti district due to lightning strikes.
Two children lost their lives in Basti Kalwar of Rahim Yar Khan district, while another individual perished in Thul Hassan. Additionally, a couple in Basti Khokhran Feroza, a farmer in Khan Bela, and a shepherd in Mari Allah also fell victim to lightning strikes, as reported.
Simultaneously, another fatality occurred in Khairpur Daha and an eight-year-old child perished in the Chak-113 area of Bahawalpur district due to lightning strikes. Furthermore, a woman lost her life in a similar incident in Lodhran, as per Geo News reports.
Extensive regions of Balochistan and numerous areas in Punjab have been affected by rain, thunderstorms, and dusty winds. Notably, Quetta witnessed significant rainfall, alleviating the prevailing heatwave and resulting in a pleasant drop in temperature.
Numerous feeders suffered an electrical outage, plunging a considerable portion of Quetta into darkness since yesterday afternoon. Concurrently, a hailstorm hit Washuk, Khuzdar, Surab, Kalat, Mastung, Nushki, Bolan, and Pashin, leading to a sudden drop in temperature, as per Geo News.
Nevertheless, a spokesperson for the Balochistan administration revealed that in response to the unforeseen rainfall and weather conditions in the province, directives have been issued to all commissioners and deputy commissioners.
Chief Minister Sardar Sarfaraz Bugti has instructed actions to clear encroachments from all natural drainage pathways, with district disaster management authorities duly informed, he remarked.