Storm claims 2 lives in Patiala
Gagan K Teja
Tribune News Service
Patiala, May 2
Heavy dust storm and gusty winds claimed two lives in the city while three persons were injured on Wednesday afternoon.
The deceased have been identified as Harminder Singh Chhada (62) of New Moti Bagh Colony and 25-year-old labourer from Raj Majra village. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Rajindra Hospital for post-mortem examination.
As per information, Harminder Singh was getting a boundary wall constructed for his plot in Rishi Colony when dust storm and gusty winds engulfed the city. Harminder and the labourer tried to take shelter near a newly constructed wall which collapsed on them, killing them on the spot. They were rushed to the Rajindra Hospital where they were declared brought dead.
Meanwhile, Karnail Singh, Randhir Singh and an unidentified person were injured after a tree fell on the roof of a parking stand inside the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala. The roof of the stand gave in injuring the trio. They were rushed to Rajindra Hospital, where their condition is said to be stable.
City residents experienced gusty winds, sunshine and rainfall, all in a day here on Wednesday. While the day started with a pleasant weather, it was bright sunny in the noon when suddenly weather took a U-turn. The weather became cloudy all of a sudden and high velocity winds and dust storm threw life out of gear.
Traffic at some roads came to a halt as commuters were blinded by the dust storm in the afternoon. Those driving two-wheelers were worst affected as the high-velocity winds made it impossible for them to drive properly. They had to take cover in the advancement buildings which too suffered damage. Glasses of few buildings were broken and hoardings gave in causing damage. The glasses of over 12 government quarters near Mohindra College were also damaged.
Moreover, heavy trees were also uprooted in Chhoti Baradari, Passi Road, Rajpura Road, Model Town, NIS Road and several other parts of the city. The situation got more panicky as schools got over at the same time and hundreds of children were on the way to their homes when the 45-minute dust storm hit the city.