ISLAMABAD: A powerful windstorm struck Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on Sunday evening, causing widespread disruption to daily life, power outages, and multiple injuries.
According to local media reports, gusty winds began sweeping across Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the late afternoon. In the evening, the powerful winds reached Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The windstorm was followed by rainfall that brought some relief from the intense summer heat.
However, the storm also led to power outages in several areas and disrupted traffic flow.
In the twin cities, strong winds kicked up clouds of dust and debris, making it difficult for motorcyclists and pedestrians to navigate the roads.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department had earlier issued an advisory warning of stormy winds in parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, urging the public to take precautionary measures.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the impact of the windstorm was particularly severe in Peshawar and surrounding areas.
According to media reports, several trees were uprooted, and in the Ghanta Ghar chowk of Peshawar city, a large, decades-old tree fell in the vegetable market, injuring several people.
In another incident reported from Charsadda, a 10-year-old boy identified as Hammad was seriously injured when a wall collapsed on him due to the high winds.
The child was given first aid on site and then transferred to the District Headquarters Hospital Charsadda for further treatment.
The windstorm also affected preparations for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match scheduled at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where the pitch was covered to prevent damage ahead of the Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi match.
