What exactly triggers lightning in thunderstorms remains a mystery. PhotoAFP
MARDAN/SHANGLA:
Strong winds, heavy rains and lightning caused many deaths and injuries in Swabi and Mardan of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Sunday evening. Rescue teams rushed to affected areas and authorities urged caution.
In Swabi, intense thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds and rain led to several tragic incidents. An investigating police official, Naeem Khan, was killed instantly after lightning struck a house in Turlandi district. His two brothers, Tayyab and Zareef, were seriously injured.
In another incident in the town of Baja, a 45-year-old woman lost her life when a wall of her house collapsed. Similar incidents of collapsing border walls and structures were reported in several areas, including in Shewa, where a young man was injured.
In Yar Hussain, two people were injured after a panel fell during the storm, while in Kalu Khan, a child was injured when a solar panel structure collapsed. Rescue teams quickly arrived at the affected scene and transferred the deceased and injured to nearby hospitals for medical assistance.
Meanwhile, in Mardan, at least two people lost their lives and six others were injured in separate incidents triggered by the powerful windstorm and deteriorating weather conditions. According to emergency services, strong winds caused walls and store shutters to fall in various areas, causing casualties.
The deceased were identified as Usman, a resident of Gujar Garhi, and Osama, 17, of Totkalay. Usman died instantly when a wall collapsed on him, while Osama was seriously injured after a shop shutter fell and later succumbed to his injuries.
Emergency services confirmed that six injured people, including a minor boy and a 10-year-old girl, received immediate medical help and were transferred to hospitals.
Some of the injured are said to be in critical condition. Eyewitnesses described the storm as extremely violent, saying panels, trees and fragile structures collapsed in several areas, while electricity supplies were also disrupted in several localities.
Residents have appealed to district administrations to take urgent action against dilapidated buildings and unsafe structures to avoid such incidents in future.
The relief and district administration teams remained engaged in relief operations in the affected areas. They advised citizens to avoid unnecessary trips outdoors during the continuing bad weather.
Floods in Shangla
Meanwhile, a devastating flash flood triggered by torrential rain caused widespread destruction in Shangla’s remote Kana Valley, washing away more than a dozen homes and cutting road links to other areas, creating a situation bordering on an emergency.
Floodwaters swept through the valley following intense rain, destroying homes and damaging several others. Many families have been left homeless and now find themselves stranded in the open, without basic necessities.
Heavy rains caused powerful flash floods that severely damaged roads, bridges and infrastructure. The main road connecting the Kana Valley to other areas, as well as several connecting roads, were washed away at several points, completely cutting off land access.
Local residents Fazal Ali and Younas Shah reported that more than 20 small hydroelectric plants, water mills and small business centers were also washed away, causing significant economic losses to the community.
Agricultural land, orchards and standing crops were also severely affected, while electricity and communications systems were reported to have suffered significant damage.
Residents said the floods struck suddenly during the night, amid darkness, thunder and intense storms, leaving people with little time to react. Women, children and the elderly fled in fear and panic to safer places.
Several families are still waiting for help, while shortages of food, medicine and clean water have emerged in affected areas.
Residents have appealed to the district administration, Rescue 1122, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and the provincial government to launch immediate relief operations and provide rescue teams, machines and emergency medical aid to prevent further losses.
Officials said the situation in the affected areas was being assessed and relevant departments had been put on alert. However, continued rainfall and road blockages pose serious challenges to relief operations.
(COURTESY OF OUR CORRESPONDENT AT SWABI)
