At least 13 people lost their lives and 92 others sustained injuries after a powerful windstorm, accompanied by heavy rain and hail, swept across several areas of Punjab, the federal capital, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Saturday, as reported by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), a strong weather system triggered intense thunderstorms, heavy downpours, and hailstorms across parts of KP and Punjab, including Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Abbottabad, Gujranwala, and surrounding regions.
This weather activity helped break the prevailing heatwave and caused a significant drop in temperatures, the department noted. Rainfall in the twin cities reached up to 40mm in various areas, with Golra receiving 10mm, 29mm near the PMD headquarters, 32mm in Shamsabad, and 6mm in the Kutchery area.
The PMD also reported hail and heavy rainfall in northern regions like Haripur and Abbottabad, before the storm moved south toward Islamabad and the surrounding areas. A damage assessment report issued by the PDMA revealed fatalities in multiple districts: three in Lahore, two in Jhelum, and one each in Rawalpindi, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Sialkot, Mianwali, Layyah, and Jhang.
PDMA spokesperson Mazhar Hussain stated that the deaths occurred primarily due to collapsing structures and exposure to unsafe conditions. He added that numerous mud and weakly constructed houses were damaged by the storm, along with incidents of fallen trees and damaged solar panels, particularly in Lahore.
In Islamabad, cool winds began blowing by late morning, followed by a thick cloud cover that turned the city unusually dark around 11 AM. Soon after, heavy rain and hail lashed the capital and nearby regions. Residents expressed relief at the weather shift, as the storm brought refreshing breezes and rainfall to heat-stricken parts of Punjab. Due to the ongoing severe weather, a rain emergency has been officially declared in Rawalpindi.
In Lahore, the storm hit around 4 PM when dark clouds began to gather. Within minutes, a powerful dust storm swept through the city, reducing visibility and forcing drivers to use headlights and streetlights. By 5 PM, the skies had darkened so much that it resembled nighttime. Many motorists pulled over due to safety concerns as strong winds pummeled the area.
The storm resulted in heavy rain across Lahore, toppling trees and collapsing walls. Rescue officials confirmed that at least three people were injured in weather-related incidents.
