SAHIWAL, May 26: One person was killed while five others were injured after a strong duststorm hit the city on Tuesday evening. The traffic on Sahiwal-Faisalabad Road remained suspended for four hours due to the uprooting of a number of trees. With a speed of over 100km per hour, the dust storm also caused damage to the communication system.

A girl, Rabia (16), died after she received an electric shock at Chak Mirdad. In Kot Ahmed, the roof of a mud house caved in, causing injuries to four inmates. In Chak 135/9-L, Ashraf (12) sustained burn injuries when he touched the live wires.

He was admitted to hospital in serious condition. At Morewala Chowk, a transformer caught fire. The electricity poles were also uprooted on Police Lines Road at Chak 119/9-L.

The Mepco restored the power supply to the city and its suburban areas after some hectic efforts of eight hours. While the power supply in Chak 119/9-L, Harappa railway station and other rural areas could not be restored despite the passage of about 18 hours.

Around 500 telephone lines in Farid Town, Bilal Colony and other areas were reportedly out of order. A shop in Pakpattan Bazaar caught fire due to lightning. The fire brigade was called out which controlled the fire after a struggle of some one hour.

THREE KILLED: Three minor boys were reportedly killed in separate traffic mishaps here on Wednesday. Mubarik, a fourth class student, was knocked down and killed by a speeding jeep (LOK-5082) on the Noorshah bus stand.

Zafar of Chak 81/D, a fifth class student, died on the spot after he fell from a motorcycle (PK-504). Shahid (8) of Chak 110/9-L was run over by a speeding car. He died on the spot. He was crossing the road. Police have registered separate cases.