LAHORE — At least 19 people were killed and 45 others injured when a powerful dust storm followed by heavy rainfall swept through parts of Pakistan’s Punjab province on Saturday, authorities said.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority said in a statement that the fatalities occurred largely due to collapsing structures and exposure to hazardous conditions during the storm. Several homes sustained damage, though the full extent of the destruction is still being assessed.
In Lahore, the provincial capital, high winds uprooted trees and damaged solar panels. Officials warned residents to remain indoors amid concerns of further weather-related incidents.
The storm came on the heels of an intense heatwave that had gripped large swaths of the country throughout the week. The Pakistan Meteorological Department had earlier forecast dust storms and thundershowers for the region.
