Heavy Rain Lashes Lahore, Exposing Arrangements

News Desk

Lahore: Heavy rain battered the provincial capital on Tuesday morning and flooded low-lying areas, disrupting the electricity grid and causing some infrastructure collapse accidents.

Early in the morning, rain began and it fell for more than seven hours, ranging in intensity. Commuters found it challenging to navigate the roadways because there were several little and large puddles.

According to the Met Office, Tajpura received the highest rainfall which was 183 mm, while Airport, Nishtar Town and Gulshan e Ravi received 180, 174 and 161 mm, respectively.

City district government machinery remained active during and after the rain but could not succeed in clearing most of the roads. Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Randhawa, along with Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Managing Director Ghafran Ahmed, visited Tajpura and other low-lying areas to check the arrangements for drainage.

Traffic signals were malfunctioning in numerous locations throughout the city and cantonment, causing pandemonium on the roads. In many places, the power supply was still suspended. Water seeped into homes and businesses in downtown due to a blocked sewer system. The effectiveness of civic bodies was exposed by this intense rainstorm.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Spokesman, more rain/wind-thunderstorm is expected in North and Eastern Punjab, including Sargodha, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Sialkot, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Okara, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur, until Thursday with occasional gaps.

Few heavy to isolated very heavy falls may inundate low-lying areas so farmers are recommended to manage their crop activities properly. Tourists and travellers are also advised to remain vigilant to avoid any unfavourable situations during the period, the official continued. Agencies/APP