Heavy to Moderate Rainfall Disrupts Lahore

News Desk 

Lahore: Heavy to moderate rainfall lashed Lahore on Monday, inundating several parts of the city, as authorities launched a swift emergency response to manage the situation. 

The Met Office predicted continued similar weather conditions over the next 24 hours, while a broader alert was issued for flash floods and landslides in vulnerable regions across the country.

The downpour began in the morning and continued intermittently till the evening, affecting multiple localities.

According to WASA Lahore, the highest rainfall — 40 mm — was recorded in Nishtar Town. Other notable figures included 32 mm in Pani Wala Talab, 28 mm in Upper Mall, 25 mm in Iqbal Town, and 24 mm on Jail Road. The average rainfall across Lahore was recorded at 20.9 mm.

Managing Director WASA Ghufran Ahmed supervised drainage operations in real-time, while Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza led the district administration’s coordinated field response. All assistant commissioners and their teams, equipped with essential machinery, were deployed across the city to ensure timely drainage and public safety.

DC Raza personally visited key areas including Lakshmi Chowk, Mall Road, and Canal Road to monitor water evacuation efforts. WASA teams were instructed to prioritize clearance in low-lying and high-traffic areas. Simultaneously, LESCO was directed to maintain uninterrupted power supply, while citizens were urged to stay away from electric poles and avoid unnecessary movement during rain.

The administration reported a stable situation across all nine tehsils of Lahore — including Shalimar, Model Town, City, Wagah, and Cantt — with underpasses remaining clear and passable.

Provincial Minister for Housing and Urban Development Bilal Yasin also toured various parts of the city, inspecting disposal stations and checking staff attendance. He commended WASA personnel for their performance and emphasized the need to strengthen the complaint redressal system, particularly the 1334 helpline.

In a meeting held at WASA headquarters, he proposed departmental action against officials failing to address complaints promptly and called for integrating low-lying areas into the central monitoring system.

Later in the day, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif made a surprise visit to Misri Shah, Lakshmi Chowk, and other localities to inspect post-rain conditions.

She assessed drainage operations and cleanliness efforts being carried out under the “Suthra Punjab” initiative. The CM directed WASA to enhance performance and urged all departments to stay on high alert for efficient coordination during monsoon rains. She also monitored traffic flow and emphasized maintaining cleanliness and public convenience across the city.

Meanwhile, the Met Office issued warnings of heavy to very heavy rain from the evening of July 14 through July 15 in Murree, Galliyat, Abbottabad, Swat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sialkot, and other regions.

The rainfall, influenced by a low-pressure system over northwest Madhya Pradesh and a westerly wave over northern Pakistan, is expected to cause flash floods in local streams and nullahs, as well as urban flooding in low-lying urban centers. Citizens were advised to stay alert and take necessary precautions.

Rain was also reported in various cities including Okara, Sahiwal, D.G. Khan, Murree, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Muzaffarabad. The day’s highest temperature — 43°C — was recorded in Jacobabad, Rohri, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Dalbandin. In contrast, Lahore remained relatively cooler at 32°C.