Lahore’s Defence Streets Turn Into Waterways After Rain
News Desk
Lahore: Lahore witnessed one of the heaviest monsoon downpours of the season as record-breaking rainfall turned major roads, underpasses and residential areas into flooded zones, disrupting daily life across the provincial capital.
The city received 263mm of rain in a single spell, with the Airport area recording the highest rainfall, according to WASA officials. The intense showers overwhelmed drainage systems, leaving several parts of Lahore submerged and forcing residents in some areas, including Defence, to use boats for movement.
The unprecedented rainfall transformed several major roads into streams, while traffic movement remained severely affected as vehicles and motorcycles became stranded in accumulated water. Underpasses, including Ghazi Underpass, Masjid Chowk Underpass and several Defence underpasses, were closed after being filled with rainwater.
Low-lying areas such as Tajpura, Mughalpura, Harbanspura, Journalist Colony, Jalo Park, Wateen Chowk and Medical Scheme faced severe flooding, with rainwater entering homes in multiple locations.
The heavy rain also highlighted ongoing infrastructure challenges in the city. Despite a Rs2 billion sewerage project, another road collapse was reported at Khayaban-e-Firdousi, while an LWMC vehicle sank into the road at Garhi Shahu Habibullah Road, affecting traffic flow.
The rainfall also brought tragedy, as two brothers, 18-year-old Hamza and 16-year-old Hassan, died after their motorcycle slipped on a rain-soaked road near Center Park Gate No. 2. Police said initial findings suggested that the accident occurred due to loss of control caused by slippery conditions.
In another incident, four people were injured after the roof of a house collapsed in Defence Phase 4. Rainwater also accumulated at the Cantt Courts, raising concerns about damage to official records.
According to PDMA Punjab, Lahore recorded the highest rainfall in Punjab during the past three days with 343mm, followed by Gujranwala with 286mm and Sialkot with 278mm. Several other districts, including Narowal, Murree, Jhelum and Rawalpindi, also received significant rainfall.
The monsoon spell has so far claimed 21 lives and injured 154 people across Punjab due to rain-related accidents and roof collapses, PDMA reported.
WASA Lahore said drainage operations were underway across the city, with rainwater removed from around 80 percent of affected areas. Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority warned that the current monsoon spell is expected to continue and advised citizens to avoid low-lying areas, storm drains, rivers and weak structures.
The heavy rains have once again raised questions over Lahore’s urban drainage capacity as the city struggles to cope with increasingly intense monsoon events.
