After an intense heatwave, deadly storms And torrential rains in central and northern parts of the country have left 14 people dead and over 100 injured, officials confirmed on Sunday.
On Saturday afternoon and evening, violent thunderstorms, strong winds, and heavy rain wreaked havoc in eastern Punjab, northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the federal capital Islamabad. Trees were uprooted and electricity poles were brought crashing down.
Most of the deaths occurred due to collapsing walls and roofs, while at least two people lost their lives after being struck by falling solar panels dislodged by powerful gusts of wind.
One person died after being struck by lightning, and three others were injured.
Mazhar Hussain, a spokesperson for Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority, told AFP that such storms are caused by extreme heat, which in recent days exceeded 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit).
He said that during the recent heatwave, there were three to four days when the temperatures soared dramatically.
Confirming 14 deaths and over 100 injuries in Punjab, he said the storm was particularly destructive. The wind speed was extremely high, and the dust it carried reduced visibility to nearly zero.
Pakistan’s Meteorological Department forecast more storms on Sunday.
Several videos of the destruction caused by the storm circulated on social media on Saturday evening.
In Lahore, a video filmed inside an aircraft preparing to land showed passengers screaming in panic as the plane was jolted violently. The flight was later diverted to Karachi.
Other videos showed vehicles crushed by fallen trees and debris scattered across roads, blocking traffic.
Pakistan, ranked among the countries most affected by climate change, is increasingly facing severe and unpredictable weather events.
In Islamabad, multiple episodes of unusual hailstorms occurred in April and May, damaging vehicles, shattering window glass, and destroying solar panels.
The unchecked rise in temperatures during April and May is becoming a norm in Pakistan, even though the summer season typically begins in early June.
In April, temperatures in some regions, particularly in Punjab, reached as high as 46.5 degrees Celsius (115.7 Fahrenheit), nearing record levels.
Due to the intense heat, schools in Punjab and Balochistan have announced early summer vacations.
