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Express Tribune
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
14 perish as massive storms pummel Punjab
As hail hammers down, a man scrambles to protect his car, mirroring scenes from the last tempest that left citizens in Islamabad counting heavy losses. PHOTO: ONLINE Listen to article Nature unleashed its wrath on Saturday as a sudden onslaught of storms and fierce winds tore through several cities, leaving at least 14 dead and over 92 injured in Punjab alone. The violent weather threw daily life into chaos, grounding flights, snapping power lines and prompting rain emergencies across multiple urban centres. According to a report issued by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab, the fatalities occurred in Rawalpindi (1), Jhelum (2), Sheikhupura (1), Nankana Sahib (1), Lahore (3), Layyah (1), Jhang (1) and Sialkot (1), mostly due to the collapse of dilapidated structures and falling debris. Multiple mud houses were also damaged in storm-hit areas, the PDMA confirmed. Rescue operations were ramped up across Punjab, with Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed directing all commissioners, deputy commissioners, and rescue agencies, including Rescue 1122, to remain on high alert. "Affected families will receive financial compensation under the Punjab government's policy," PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said, adding that all district emergency operation centres and the provincial control room have been activated for round-the-clock monitoring. Kathia urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel during bad weather, stay clear of power poles and hanging wires and ensure children do not venture near damaged buildings. "During lightning and storm activity, stay indoors and off rooftops," he advised. In case of emergencies, citizens were urged to contact PDMA via helpline 1129. Flight disruptions The storm severely impacted flight operations at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport. Several flights were either delayed, diverted, or cancelled due to strong winds and low visibility. A Karachi-bound private airline flight was rerouted to Multan, while flights arriving from Skardu (PK-454) and Guangzhou (CZ-6037) were cancelled. Another incoming flight from Karachi (9P-84) returned to its point of origin mid-air. Flights departing for Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur experienced delays, while three domestic flights to Karachi were also held up. However, as weather conditions improved later in the day, air traffic resumed. Air traffic controllers cleared both domestic and international flights for landing and takeoff. LESCO alert In the wake of the severe storm, Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) declared a red alert across its network. Field teams were dispatched to restore electricity in affected areas. "The storm caused significant stress on the grid," LESCO CEO Engineer Muhammad Ramzan Butt said. Butt was present at the control room alongside GM Operations Ijaz Bhatti and senior engineers. Materials were dispatched from stores to aid repair work, and Butt vowed to remain in the control room until power was restored to the last affected consumer. Meanwhile, the Motorway Police reported intense storms and overcast skies across sections of M-4, M-5 and the National Highway. Light showers and strong winds were reported from Pindi Bhattian to Abdul Hakeem and from Multan to Rahim Yar Khan. Similar conditions were seen from Lahore to Chichawatni and onward to Lodhran. Authorities urged motorists to drive cautiously, maintain safe distances between vehicles and avoid speeding. A special public awareness campaign on safe driving during storms is currently being run by the Motorway Police in Central Region. K-P Similarly, the PDMA in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa issued an alert forecasting rain and thunderstorms in most districts, including Chitral, Swat, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Kohat and Waziristan. The inclement weather is expected to continue intermittently through Sunday (today). Authorities have been instructed to remain vigilant, ensure the availability of machinery for debris clearance, and issue safety advisories in local languages. Farmers have been advised to factor in weather conditions while planning activities, and tourists have been urged to check updates before traveling. The PDMA helpline 1700 remains active for public assistance. In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the storm marked a dramatic end to an extended heatwave. By late morning, dark clouds engulfed the skies and strong winds swept through the twin cities, followed by heavy rain and hailstorms. Temperatures dropped significantly, and power outages were reported in several areas. A rain emergency was declared in Rawalpindi to manage the aftermath.
Express Tribune
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Thatta's road link to Karachi, other towns cut off
Protest demonstrations erupted in Thatta on Wednesday as nationalist groups and local residents took to the streets against the construction of new canals off the Indus River. In solidarity with the ongoing sit-in at Baberlo Bypass, demonstrators staged a major protest at the Makli Bypass, blocking the national highway connecting Thatta to Karachi, Sujawal, Badin, Umerkot, Mithi, and Tando Muhammad Khan, causing severe traffic disruptions. The protest was led by Sindh United Party's district president Imran Khushk, Jeay Sindh Tehreek's Rawal Karnai, JSSF's Abdul Malik Khushk, QAT's Yasir Jakro, Jeay Sindh Mahaz's Amjad Shoro, and civil society representatives including Fawad Mashori and Haider Shah. The protesters chanted slogans like "Canal Project Rejected" and "No Theft of Indus Water." Leaders termed the canal projects a conspiracy to turn Sindh barren and claimed they pose a serious threat to the province's fertility, ecology, and millions of human and animal lives. They demanded the federal government immediately scrap the projects and warned the movement would continue until the plans were cancelled. Sakrand Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh Women Wing President Anisa Waliullah Siddiqui, announced full support for the resistance movement against the canal schemes. Speaking to media in Sakrand, she said the protest has grown into a mass movement representing millions of Sindhis. She emphasized that under the guise of the Green Pakistan Initiative and corporate farming, massive water diversion projects are being pushed to benefit Punjab's arid lands at Sindh's expense. Siddiqui declared these developments a direct threat to Sindh's agriculture, environment, and livelihoods, adding that they amount to economic, ecological, and demographic aggression. She called the six-canal project an environmental catastrophe and accused it of further destroying the Indus River, already impacted by past projects like Ghazi Barotha. She called for joint resistance by oppressed communities across Pakistan. Nawabshah Workers from Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) and other Sindhi nationalist parties staged a sit-in protest on the railway track between Nawabshah and Sakrand against the construction of canals on the Indus River. The railway traffic was suspended on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday. The Pak Business Express train was stopped at Sarhari Railway Station due to the protest. The protesters, however, allowed the Karachi-bound Hazara Express bound to pass. However, later in the day the protestors left the railway tracks. Sakrand police station SHO Asghar Awan reached the scene with a heavy police contingent and held negotiations with the protesters. Hyderabad The Hyderabad Union of Journalists (HUJ) has announced a protest camp outside the Hyderabad Press Club today (Thursday) at 11am, opposing the canal projects. The event will see participation from political, religious, and nationalist parties, alongside traders, professionals, students, and civil society groups. HUJ President Hamid Shaikh confirmed all arrangements are in place. Separately, HUJ and PFUJ leaders expressed sorrow over the passing of senior journalist S.M. Shakeel and offered prayers and condolences to his family.
Express Tribune
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Night travel restricted on major highways in Balochistan
Listen to article The Balochistan government has imposed a ban on night-time travel across several key national highways in the province ami The decision, which has been enforced through a notification issued by various deputy commissioners, affects major routes in districts including Kachhi, Noshki, Musa Khel, Gwadar, and Zhob. According to the notification, the restriction applies to public transport, prohibiting travel from 6 PM to 6 AM. The ban covers several significant highways, including the Quetta-Taftan Road, Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan Road, Sibi Road, Coastal Highway, and Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan Road. The move comes after multiple recent incidents, including a suicide bombing near a Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) rally at Lak Pass in Mastung. In a separate attack last week, terrorists killed at least eight people, including four labourers and four police personnel, in Kalat and Noshki districts. Additionally, five passengers were executed two days ago after armed men intercepted a Karachi-bound bus in Gwadar's Kalmat area, forcibly removing the victims before killing them. Another major attack targeted a paramilitary convoy on the Nushki-Dalbandin highway, resulting in the deaths of five people, including three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, and injuries to 35 others. The security situation further deteriorated with an attack on the Jaffar Express by militants affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The attackers blew up a railway track, took over 440 passengers hostage, and engaged security forces in a prolonged standoff. A clearance operation by security personnel led to the elimination of 33 militants and the rescue of hostages. However, 26 passengers, including 18 security personnel, three railway and government officials, and five civilians, lost their lives. Additionally, three FC personnel were killed in an attack on a security checkpoint before the train ambush.
Express Tribune
28-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Fatal bus crash in Kalat claims six lives, over 20 injured
Listen to article At least six people were killed and more than 20 others injured when two passenger buses collided in the Reej area of Kalat district, Balochistan. The crash, which occurred due to high speed, resulted in multiple casualties. Ambulances were quickly dispatched to the scene, and the injured were promptly transferred to DHQ hospital in Kalat, where an emergency was declared and medical assistance is being provided. Levies sources confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. The incident comes on the heels of two other violent occurrences in the region. On Wednesday, six passengers lost their lives in a brutal attack on a Karachi-bound bus in Gwadar's Kalmat area. In another incident that same day, a bomb blast near a police van on Quetta's Double Road killed two people and injured at least 17 others, including four police officers, according to local authorities.
Saba Yemen
27-03-2025
- Saba Yemen
Pakistani Police: 6 Killed in Gunmen Attack in Western Pakistan
Islamabad - Saba: At least six people were killed in an attack by gunmen on a passenger bus in Balochistan province, western Pakistan. "At least five passengers were killed when gunmen forced them out of the bus and opened fire after intercepting the Karachi-bound bus in the Kalmat area of Gwadar city," Deputy Commissioner of Police Gwadar Hamidur Rehman said on Thursday. He added that the death toll rose to six after one of the injured died of his wounds in hospital. According to sources, three other passengers were kidnapped. The dead were reportedly residents of Punjab province. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
