Stormy winds in Karachi claim at least three lives, scores injured

KARACHI: A dust-storm with 55 kilometres’ per hour wind speed lashed Karachi on Sunday night, claimed at least three deaths and 20 injured in various incidents, ARY News reported.

Fierce stormy winds hit hard already creaking infrastructure of the city, bringing down trees and electricity poles in different areas of the metropolis.

The dust storm also claimed a tree each at Karachi Press Club, Supreme Court Registry, Sindh High Court compound and the Arts Council, reports said.

A youth and two children were killed in various weather related incidents in the port city. A rooftop collapsed at Haji Ibrahim Goth in the city, claimed the life of a girl, rescue sources said. In another fatal incident a falling tree near People’s Chowrangi killed a youth, rescue officials said.

Stormy winds caused collapse of another tree at Tipu Sultan Road. A van of power utility, K Electric, trapped under the tree and a person injured in the incident.

Moreover, rooftop collapse of a madrassa building in Chakiwara locality of Lyari left six persons injured, according to the relief workers. The rescue teams rushed to the scene of the incident after the incident reported.

Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has issued directives to all divisional commissioners of the province to ensure public safety amid fierce duststorms across the region.

CM Shah has also directed the local councils and deputy commissioners to ensure immediate help amid the forecast of rainy weather.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted rains along with dust and thunderstorm in the city on Monday (today).