According to details, severe wind and thunderstorm hit Sahiwal and adjoining areas in the evening which uprooted trees, pulled down billboards and power pylons while roofs and walls of many houses also collapsed. As result, eight people lost their lives while dozens of others were wounded. Most of the casualties have been reported from Saddar Chowk and Jihad Ground areas where many hoardings had been installed.
And in Muzaffargarh, five persons were killed when lightning struck a locality in Kundai ,Alipur, Sultanpur area. Police and rescue officials feared that the number of deaths might increase as the far-flung areas had not been accessed till filling of this report while the condition of some of the wounded is stated to be critical.
Windstorms accompanied by thunder and drizzle or moderate rain lashed Punjab after a heat wave crippled routine life in the plain areas of the country for the last two weeks.
The experts say severe windstorms are a routine in this time of a year, especially after long dry spells.
