Lahore and its surrounding towns and villages were suddenly hit by a windstorm on Friday evening (yesterday), playing havoc, uprooting trees, demolishing structures, collapsing walls, destroying billboards, causing at least 13 deaths and injuries to at least 23 persons (these figures are only those reported immediately after the storm).
High velocity winds started blowing in the evening that also disturbed normal vehicular movement on important roads including the motorway causing a number of road accidents as well.
ABC School Campus located at Machike which is not far from Lahore was also a prey to this devastating windstorm. The staff and children watched in dismay with their eyes as the boundary walls of the campus came tumbling down.
The immediate response of the staff was to try and provide safety to children who were out in the open. All children were gathered into the enclosed dorms and kept inside for safety. Immediate prayer sessions were started in the dorm and not soon after the storm was quiet, however, it left a scene of despair and shock for all the children and staff on campus. Electric power was cut off, and there was no running water for children until late this afternoon.
What had happened had happened?what next? The next step to be taken was to arrange for security. The security personnel were immediately increased as night was falling. For the girls and boys to be without the safety of four walls is extremely scary for them, and with the law and order situation in the country at the moment, it was imperative that security be beefed up. Many older boys stayed up night assisting the security guards as well.
In the wee hours of the next morning, the evacuation process was begun. All children whose parents, guardians lived close-by were immediately shifted to their homes for safety while others were immediately moved to the nearby ABC Day School building in Farooqabad. The school in Machike and Farooqabad has been temporarily closed down due to this crisis.
It was very important for the children to be evacuated as the security of the children comes first for us. Having around six to seven hundred children living in the open on the campus with no security walls is not wise or advisable. At the time of my writing this report almost all children have been evacuated.
We have been in meeting with the construction contractors this morning and it is estimated that the re-construction of this destroyed wall will cost at least 1.7 million Pakistan Rupees (approximately US$ 20,000). The construction of the boundary walls is needed urgently as we need to first of all ensure that no vandalism takes place and secondly, we need to bring back the children soon to school as right now they were in the middle of their examinations. Too long a delay could cause much loss of school time which is not good at all.
We want to thank God for being very close to His children during this ordeal and keeping them safe. During the storm only one person (cook in the campus) was hurt as she was taken away by the storm and thrown into a ditch. She was given first aid and immediately taken to the hospital after the storm became still. She is okay now.
I am appealing to you all for praying for us at this time and also as in the past come to our rescue. We need money immediately to do this construction and resume schooling activities. And, we know that God will help you all in finding funds for us urgently so this work can be done. Although times are not so good financially, we are praying that God will intervene and give a breakthrough for this urgent need of ours. Close to seven hundred children?s schooling is affected by this?and we can?t bring the children back into the school unless adequate security measures are taken i.e. construction of the boundary wall.
It is with deep sorrow that I report this incident to you but am hopeful that God will make a way.
Thanking you and bringing to you greetings from all our staff and children from the Machike Campus?
I remain,
Your brother,
Mike
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