May 20, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 03, 1428

SIALKOT, May 19: At least 11 people were killed in violent windstorm accompanied with rain in many parts of the Sialkot district in the last 36 hours or so. Reports said Salma Bibi, 45, and her six-year-old daughter Rabia were killed when lightning struck them at Chitti Sheikhaan village. The two were asleep in the open at their home and they were laid to rest amid scores mourning.

Nine other people, including four children of a family, were killed and more than two dozens people were injured in incidents of roof and hoarding collapse in Sialkot.

The muddy roof of labourer Muhammad Amjad’s house at Chak Akhtiyaar village (Sambrial) collapsed after overnight rain as a result of which his four children Muneeba, Layiba, Tayyaba and Junaid, all below 10, were buried alive. Amjad and his wife Farzana Bibi were seriously injured and admitted to Sambrial hospital in critical condition.

In Daska city, a minaret of a Jamia mosque fell on the people sitting in the courtyard, killing Naseer alias Cheero. Haji Muhammad Ashraf, Saqib and Hammad were injured. Hammad was referred to a Lahore hospital owing to critical condition while Saqib succumbed to injuries at Daska hospital.

The people were reportedly awaiting Indian guest Syed Sarwar Chishti, the Sajjada Nasheen of the shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Mueenuddin Chishti (RA) who was scheduled to address an Islamic conference at the mosque.

Labourers Muhammad Ashraf and Tariq were buried alive in two roof-collapse incidents. A man died in Pasrur tehsil when wall collapsed on him.

GUJRANWALA: Four people, including a councillor and her two sons, were killed while several other people suffered injuries in windstorm that lashed the city and its suburbs.

Councillor Zakia Bibi was asleep along with her family in the compound of their house when a wall collapsed. The councillor and her sons Irfan and Zeeshan died on the spot while another son, Luqman, and others of the family suffered injuries. They were hospitalised.

One Sajid died at Lambanwali village when a heavy tree fell on him.

The windstorm caused break down of power supply as Gakkhar grid station installations were damaged. The Gujranwala Electric Power Company line staff restored the power supply after three hours. The power supply to Noorpura (Sialkot Road) and other areas remained suspended for hours.