Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Fast blowing wind-storm and lightening followed by heavy downpour with hailstorms slammed played havoc in Federal Capital Islamabad and its surroundings claiming nine lives and left over 50 others injured, besides huge material losses.

The speed of storm was 120 kilometer per hour in Islamabad while it was recorded about 148 km per hour in Rawalpindi, reports from Met Office said.

Several trees, electricity polls, signboards and billboards were uprooted, due to which several roads were blocked.

The electricity was shut down and the communication system of twin cities was partially disturbed.

Due to high speed of wind, the window panes of metro buses plying between twin cities and glasses of several stations were broken by owing this the metro bus service was temporary suspended. Several flights at Benazir International Airport Islamabad were cancelled due to thunderstorm and heavy rainfall.

A high voltage electric wire was fallen due to which the fire broke out at fruit and vegetable market (Sabzi Mandi) located at the sector I-11. No life loss was reported as fire brigade reached the spot and extinguished the blaze after hectic efforts of half an hour.

Several vehicles were also damaged as trees fell on them but luckily at that time they were parked in the different sectors of Islamabad and no one was there inside.

Rescuers said that four people, two of them women, were killed in Nowshera and Jamrud. One child was reportedly killed in Charsadda.

In the suburban areas of Islamabad, Bhara Kahu, Margalla Town and Khana Pul, roofs of three houses caved in due to which at least four people including a woman and two children were killed.

In Rawalpindi Qasimabad and in posh sector of capital F-7/4, the walls of two house were collapsed and as a result of that three people including two brother and sister were expired.

Some 40 injured were brought to PIMS and about 10 wounded were rushed to Polyclinic Hospital.