DG KHAN/ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR/LAHORE: Lightning killed eight including three kids on Saturday in Loralai, Sibbi and Dera Ghazi Khan while three other kids were injured in the incidents, as widespread thunder showers hit Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan on Saturday and Sunday. Upper reaches of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa also received light to heavy snowfall. According to reports, in Dera Ghazi Khan’s suburb area Pagan, lightning claimed lives of atleast two people and injured one. One youth died in Loralai’s area of B and R Colony while two laborers died in Daki as lightning struck upon a coalmine.
On the other hand, lightning fell on a house in Waam Tangi area of Harnaai, near Sibbi, and killed three kids on the spot while critically injuring three others.
Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore,Multan and several other cities in Punjab have been receiving light intermittent rain since Saturday evening turning the weather cold. Different parts of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and surrounding areas received light rain with thunder and lightning in some areas late Saturday and throughout Sunday . According to the Met office, 3.5 millimeters of rain have so far been recorded in Multan, with temperatures falling from 32 degree Celsius to a chilly 19 degrees. Peshawar and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also been receiving heavy to light rainfall on Sunday.Meanwhile, the mountainous areas of Gilgit and Chitral received snowfall, sending mercury to a dip.
The Met office has forecast widespread rain-thunderstorm accompanied by gusty winds in KP (Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Bannu, D.I.Khan divisions), upper and central Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sahiwal divisions), FATA, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, while at scattered places in D.G.Khan , Multan, Bahawalpur divisions, whereas at isolated places in Quetta, Zhob divisions. Isolated heavy fall is also expected in Hazara, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir . Snowfall is also expected over the hills of Malakand division, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.
The rain and snow fall made the weather cold in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa while it was very cold in Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral andMalakand. People came out wearing woolies on Sunday for their protection.
INP/AH
