LAHORE: At least 24 people have lost their lives and over 150 sustained injuries in rain-related incidents across Punjab province over the past 24 hours, pushing the nationwide death toll to 140 this monsoon season, an official confirmed on Wednesday.
Lahore and several other districts experienced intermittent rainfall throughout the night, with the current spell expected to continue until Thursday, according to officials.
“In Lahore, 12 people died in three separate roof collapse incidents triggered by a thunderstorm overnight. Among the victims were five members of a single family, including young girls, in the Thokar Niaz Baig area,” a spokesperson for Punjab’s Rescue 1122 said.
Three fatalities were reported in Faisalabad, while three others — including a woman and two children — died in Pakpattan. One death each occurred in Sheikhupura, Bhakkar, Bahawalnagar, and Shahkot, also due to roof collapses. Additionally, two teenagers were killed in Okara.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported on Tuesday that since the start of the monsoon rains on June 26, at least 116 people had died in rain-related incidents. Of these, 44 deaths occurred in Punjab, 37 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 18 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and directed authorities to ensure timely rescue and relief operations.
