Bannu Storm Injures 20 as Homes and Shops Collapse

At least 20 people, including women and children, were injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Tuesday after a powerful storm and high winds damaged homes, shops and other structures. The late-evening emergency unfolded as roofs and walls collapsed in different parts of the district, forcing rescue teams to move quickly to evacuate those trapped under debris.

Local emergency officials said the storm hit residential and commercial areas with enough force to bring down vulnerable structures. The damage was reported across multiple localities, suggesting the weather system affected a wide stretch of the district rather than a single neighbourhood.

Rescue 1122 teams responded to repeated calls from affected areas and began removing debris from collapsed roofs and walls. The injured were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Bannu, while first aid was also provided at the scene before patients were moved for further treatment.

Officials said rescue personnel remained active throughout the emergency as fresh reports of damage continued to come in. Authorities were still assessing the scale of destruction and gathering information about any additional injured people, damaged houses or families requiring support.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department had already warned that dust storms and thunderstorms were expected in upper parts of the country from June 2 to June 5. The forecast included parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Bannu was among the districts expected to receive scattered rain and thunderstorms with occasional gaps.

The PMD advisory had cautioned that strong winds and storm activity could damage weak structures, especially in vulnerable areas. It also urged concerned authorities to remain alert and take precautionary measures, while advising farmers and travellers to plan carefully during the unstable weather period.

Storm-related damage is a recurring risk in many parts of Pakistan, particularly where older homes, temporary structures and poorly maintained commercial buildings are exposed to sudden high winds. In rural and semi-urban districts, emergency response can become more difficult when multiple incidents occur at the same time across scattered locations.

The Bannu incident also highlights the broader public-safety challenge posed by extreme and fast-changing weather. For families already living in fragile homes, a short spell of intense wind can cause serious injury, financial loss and displacement, while local hospitals and rescue services come under immediate pressure.

The next priority for district authorities will be to complete damage assessment, verify whether more casualties have occurred and ensure medical treatment for the injured. With the PMD warning still covering the coming days, residents in storm-prone areas are expected to remain cautious, avoid weak structures during strong winds and follow official weather alerts.