Punjab Storm Damage Attributed to Faulty Solar Panel Installations

The recent powerful winds and storms in Punjab led to widespread structural damage, which the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab attributes largely to improperly installed rooftop solar panels.

PDMA Punjab Director General Irfan Ali Kathia characterized the weather as “unprecedented” and “beyond expectations.”

Although substantial rainfall was predicted, the extreme intensity of the weather system was not foreseen.

Kathia mentioned that there have been 124 reports of structural failures throughout Punjab thus far. A significant 80% of these instances, he noted, were directly related to rooftop solar panels that were not installed with sufficient safety precautions.

“Solar panel installations were involved in eighty per cent of the collapses. These installations caused all but three incidents,” he stated. “While we support solar technology, installations must be secure to avert such disasters.”

The DG PDMA also linked the recent severe weather to broader climate change trends. He mentioned that while world temperatures have risen by one to two degrees Celsius, Pakistan has seen a sharp increase of four to five degrees, which has caused more intense heat waves.

“We are experiencing the repercussions of a 1°C to 1.5°C increase in world temperature. We have seen a sudden 7°C increase during the summer for the second year in a row, which has resulted in severe heatwaves,” he clarified.

Kathia advised residents to prepare for increasingly severe weather patterns, stressing the strong correlation between rising temperatures and extreme climate events.

The government has launched a number of protective measures in response, including stepped-up water supply efforts and early warning systems. Kathia did, however, emphasise the urgent need for regional collaboration and strong, long-term strategies.

“We need serious action, such as afforestation, better urban planning, and coordinated efforts throughout South Asia, if we are to genuinely lower the temperature,” he came to a conclusion.