FAISALABAD: Two siblings lost their lives while five others, including four women, were injured in two roof collapse incidents during heavy rain here on Friday.
According to Rescue 1122, the first incident occurred at Chak 531/GB, Samundri, where the roof of a dilapidated house collapsed. The family of Manzoor was trapped under the debris, resulting in the deaths of his 13-year-old son Imran and 17-year-old daughter Sawera on the spot. Manzoor’s wife, Zulekha, and 15-year-old daughter Tasawwar Bibi sustained injuries. Rescue 1122 teams removed the debris, recovered the injured, and transported them to a hospital.
In the second incident in the same area, the roof of another house collapsed, injuring 55-year-old Samreen Bibi, her 18-year-old daughter Fatima and seven-year-old son Abdul Rehman. They were also shifted to a hospital.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall left many areas of the city submerged in water, exacerbating the challenges faced by the residents. Power outages were reported in multiple areas during the downpour, further adding to the inconvenience. According to a Wasa spokesperson, the highest rainfall was recorded at Allama Iqbal Colony, with 96 millimeters. Other areas experienced significant rainfall as well, with 84 millimeters in Ghulam Muhammadabad, 82 millimeters in Madina Town, 79 millimeters in Dogar Basti, and 73 millimeters in Gulistan Colony.
It’s worth noting that the city had already received 52 millimeters of rain the previous day, which had left waterlogged conditions in several areas. The additional rain caused gutters to overflow, spreading a foul odour that made it difficult for the residents to stay indoors. The accumulation of water on roads also disrupted traffic, with many cars and motorcycles breaking down as water entered their engines.
During the rain, Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Nasir and Wasa Managing Director Amir Aziz visited various areas to assess the drainage situation. They checked the availability of officers and field staff at key waterlogging points (ponding points) and inspected the working condition of dewatering sets and other machinery. According to the MD Wasa, the first phase of clearing focused on main roads, intersections and ponding points, with drainage from the surrounding neighbourhoods to follow.
