30 dead as rain, thunderstorm hit Islamabad

At least 30 people, including women and children, were killed and scores of others injured in the wake of heavy rainfall and thunderstorm that hit upper parts of Pakistan, it was reported on Thursday.

In Islamabad, 11 people died an 69 others were injured when torrential rains lashed the city, rescue services said, adding that at twin-city Rawalpindi 19 people died and 122 others were injured.

Power supply to several areas in Islamabad was cut off. "The IESCO operation was affected due to the rain and thunderstorm," an IESCO spokesperson said.

According to aviation sources, flight operations were also suspended at the Benazir International Airport.

In addition, Metro bus service was also halted after strong winds broke window panes of several metro stations.

The Inspector General of Islamabad Police said police personnel were put on alert.

Heavy downpour also lashed the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, causing widespread devastation. Rescuers said four people, two of them women, were killed in Nowshehra and Jamrud. A child was reportedly killed in Charsadda.

--IANS

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