Storms kill 34, disrupts power infrastructure

June 2, 2016 1:24 PM

He said 10 deaths were reported and more than 50 people were injured. Mehmoud said most victims were hit by falling trees and signboards, with winds gusting around 150 kilometres per hour.

Storms kill 34 in Pakistan, disrupts power infrastructure

Pakistani Police Official, Saqib Mehmoud, said strong thunderstorms hit Islamabad and adjacent regions on Wednesday night, killing 34 people and causing prolonged power outages.

Rescue Official, Farooq Butt, said more than 16 people died in Rawalpindi near the capital and 65 people were hospitalised.He said eight people died in the north-western province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and up to 30 were being treated for injuries.

Butt said the storm uprooted electricity pools in many areas, causing a 12-hour power breakdown in parts of the province.

Meanwhile, the meteorological department in Islamabad has predicted more storms and heavy rains in the north-western region. Meteorological Official, Mohamed Hanif, said a storm last year in the same region killed 44 people, prompting the government to warn that more needed to be done to tackle climate change.

He said this should have served as an eye opener for policy makers to be more proactive. Hanif said unfortunately no action was taken.