The storm disrupted power supply, uprooted hundreds of trees, damaged houses and cars, collapsed billboards, within a span of less than an hour
At least twelve people were killed and scores injured on Wednesday as heavy rains and deadly thunderstorm struck most parts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
At least 94 injured people were brought to different hospitals in the twin cities —22 at Pims, 44 at Polyclinic, and 28 at Holy Family Hospital.
The storm disrupted power supply, uprooted hundreds of trees, damaged houses and cars, collapsed many poles and billboards, within a span of less than an hour due to strong winds of over 100km per hour.
The gusty winds sweeping across the twin cities reportedly blew at a speed of 148 km/h and 120 km/h in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, respectively.
Flight operations at the Benazir International Airport and Metro Bus Service between the two cities was also suspended due to severe weather.
The devastating storm also hit Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Khyber Agency, Nowshera, Kalam, Mansehra and Lahore later, causing chaos and injuries.
According to the Rescue 1122 Spokespman Bilal Ahmed Faizi, a woman, Sidra, along with her six-month-old son, Ahmad, were killed in Mosazai area near Eidgah on Kohat Road as roof of their house collapsed. Two other women identified as Nosheen and Ambreen sustained injuries.
Islamabad received 14 millimeter rain bringing down the mercury that had hit 40 Centigrade early in the day. The wind blew with 60km per hour speed in the city while its direction remained south-east, according to MET Office.
MET office has said that a western disturbance was affecting upper parts of the country and is likely to persist till Friday. “Scattered rain-thunderstorm with gusty winds is expected in FATA, KP (Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Bannu division), Islamabad, Upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad divisions), Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir and at few places in DG Khan, DI Khan, Quetta, Zhob and Multan divisions”.
Social media was full of reports and photos of devastation, showing injured people, damaged homes and cars, uprroted trees, as the storm raged for hours.
Lightning strikes #Islamabad with severe rain and storm. #IESCO making life miserable with #Loadshedding pic.twitter.com/iXn6qdRFxZ
— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) June 1, 2016
Several people dead, many injured after powerful storm hits Islamabad. Cars, homes destroyed. Huge trees down pic.twitter.com/iRLloHuoX7
— Islamabad Scene (@IslamabadScene) June 1, 2016
Some pictures shared by friends after recent #Storm in Islamabad. pic.twitter.com/Vi7XIznrdw — Dr. Nabeel Alvi (@RphNabeel) June 1, 2016
#Islamabad after thunderstorm pic.twitter.com/T2wnX3X1CC — Javeria Siddique (@javerias) June 1, 2016
Morning after a stormy night #Islamabad pic.twitter.com/teZAQNbSUB
— meena gabeena (@gabeeno) June 2, 2016