Islamabad - Authorities warned of more widespread dust-thunderstorms and rain accompanied by gusty winds .
Published: Wed 17 Apr 2019, 3:03 PM
Updated: Thu 18 Apr 2019, 9:35 AM
At least 39 people were killed and 135 injured as rain continued to wreak havoc across Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority said on Wednesday.
At least 80 houses were damaged as torrential rain lashed Pakistan's Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces, Geo News reported citing authorities.
In the last 24 hours, the Met office recorded 57mm rain in Islamabad, 24mm rain in Rawalpindi, 43mm rain in Lahore, 40mm in Gujranwala and 16mm in Peshawar, the report said.
Authorities warned of more widespread dust-thunderstorms and rain accompanied by gusty winds in Punjab, Islamabad and KP.
Pakistan media reports on Tuesday said that the country's Balochistan province was the worst-hit in the rains which hit earlier this week.
Several incidents of roof and wall collapse were reported in many areas. Trees and signboards were also uprooted by gusty winds in Karachi and Punjab.
Several children were injured when the wall of a school collapsed in Karachi earlier this week. In a separate incident in the city, several prisoners were injured when a tree fell on a van carrying them.
Rainwater inundated several low-lying houses and roads, disrupting road traffic. Several water drainages also sprang, creating a flash flood in adjoining areas and washing away vehicles and mud houses.
Rains, thunderstorm leave nearly 50 dead in India
Meanwhile in India, nearly 50 people were killed as rains coupled with thunderstorm and lightning hit several parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra overnight.
The unseasonal rains and storm also caused damage to property and crops in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Rajasthan witnessed the maximum casualties with 21 people killed in rain-related incidents following by Madhya Pradesh where 15 were killed. While 10 people were killed in Gujarat, three were killed in Maharashtra.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to twitter in the morning to express anguish over the loss of lives in the rains in Gujarat and announce relief.
Soon afterwards Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath hit out at the prime minister, accusing him of being concerned only about his home state Gujarat.
The PMO in a tweet later said,"PM @narendramodi has expressed grief at loss of lives due to unseasonal rains and storms in MP, Rajasthan, Manipur & various parts of the country".
"An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to unseasonal rain & storms in MP, Rajasthan, Manipur & various parts of the country has been approved from the PM's National Relief Fund. Rs 50,000 each for the injured has also been approved," the PMO said.
In Jaipur, Rajasthan Relief Secretary Ashutosh A T Pednekar said 21 people died due to unseasonal rains.
"4 deaths were reported in Jhalawar, Udaipur and Jaipur each, two each in Jalore and Bundi and one each in Baran, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Alwar and Hanumangarh, he said. Compensation of Rs. 4 lakh each has been announced to the families of victims.
Another official said crops have suffered damage and the assessment is being done. Several cattle were also killed in rain-related incidents. Survey of crop damage is underway.
The department has predicted dust storm/thunderstorm accompanied with high velocity winds and lightning at a few places during the next 24 hours.
Officials in Bhopal said unseasonal rain accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning hit various parts of Madhya Pradesh, leaving 15 people dead and injuring some others.
Rains claimed three lives each in Indore, Dhar and Shajapur, two in Ratlam and one each in Alirajpur, Rajgarh, Sehore and Chhindwara districts.
In Ahmedabad, Gujarat government's director of relief G B Manglpara, told PTI that at least 10 people have died in the rain and dust storm reported from various areas including districts in North Gujarat and Saurashtra region. Also, a portion of a tent erected for Prime Minister Modi's rally in Himmatnagar town of North Gujarat was also damaged in the dust storm, an official earlier said.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced an aid of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased in the western state.
Apart from rain, the storm also resulted in hailstorm in some parts of Rajkot district of Saurashtra and Banaskantha district of north Gujarat.
In Mehsana, farm produce kept in the open in the agriculture produce market committee premises got damaged, an official said. Besides, officials in Banaskantha said the watermelon crop, mainly grown in and around Deesa, got damaged due to hailstorm and thunderstorm.
In Maharashtra, a 71-year-old woman, a 32-year-old man and a temple priest died when lightning struck them in Nashik district during rains on Tuesday, police said.
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