National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz
Sharif Friday sought explanation from Director General Met Office over the serious lapse by the Pakistan Meteorological Department to timely warn about the thunderstorm that hit Islamabad, Punjab and various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on June 1.
A letter dispatched by the Prime Minister Office and
available with the APP, has been addressed to its Director
General Dr. Ghulam Rasool seeking an explanation for the
“serious and culpable neglect of duty.”
The Prime Minister, who is undergoing a cardiac
treatment in London, was perturbed by the widespread damage
and loss of precious lives caused by the high intensity
thunderstorm on June 1.
The letter mentioned that the storm clouds were even
visible to the naked eye in Islamabad by 4 in the evening.
However the Meteorological Department, despite the
“modern equipment and technology available to it, failed to
either forecast, or to issue an adequate warning, regarding
the impending storm, which resulted in loss of so many
precious lives, injuries and damages to property and
installations.”
The letter asked the Director General to submit a report
and his explanation for the neglect of duty, for the
information of the Prime Minister.
Around a dozen people were reportedly killed in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and adjoining areas, while around 70 injured in storm related incidents. Around a similar number of deaths and injuries were reported from Khyber
Pakhthunkhwa. Falling trees damaged many cars, a fire broke
out in shops at the Federal Capital’s fruit market, while a
large number of flights had to be diverted.