SIALKOT – A severe dust storm left at least 11 people dead and 50 others injured in Sialkot near the Pak-India border on Saturday afternoon.The storm, described by some people as a tornado, devastated Bahadarpura, Machchraala and Chakraala villages near Head Marala, as most of the houses collapsed amidst high-intensity wind while hundreds of cattle were also reportedly killed.
According to the locals, the strong winds sent the people, buffaloes, cars, motorcycles and tractor trolleys flying into the air. The Rescue 1122 Sialkot officials said the high-intensity storm with thunder hit the area suddenly and ripped through the rooftops of more than 90 percent houses.
DPO Sialkot Bilal Kamiana told the BBC that the number of deaths had reached 11 while around 50 people were wounded. Earlier, DCO Mujahid Sher Dil had confirmed that four persons reportedly died with injuries to another 45. According to the BBC, a citizen Ch Zulfiqar said seven bodies, including two women, had been recovered from Chenab River.
Medical Superintendent Dr Zafar Awan told newsmen that emergency had been declared at the Govt Allama Iqbal Memorial DHQ Civil Hospital Sialkot while the officials feared that the death toll could further rise. A large number of the ambulances from Sialkot, Daska, Pasrur, Gujranwala, Wazirabad and Gujrat reached the calamity-hit villages while rescue operation was in full swing during which several injured people were pulled out from the rubble and debris of the collapsed houses.
A team of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and top government functionaries had also reached the area. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the storm and directed the district administration and the PPP’s workers to supervise the rescue operation.
It is pertinent to mention that the destroyed villages fall in NA 111 from where Firdous was elected to the National Assembly.
