Record Rainfall Submerges Gujrat, City Life Paralyzed

News Desk

Islamabad: Torrential rains measuring a record 526 millimetres have devastated Gujrat, inundating roads, homes, and commercial centres.

Floodwaters swept into major city markets and residential areas, crippling daily life and inflicting massive losses on traders. Six stormwater drains overflowed on the city’s outskirts, submerging nearby villages before pushing into Gujrat.

Key commercial hubs, including Kachhari Chowk, Court Road, and Muslim Bazaar, were left underwater, forcing traders to salvage their goods late at night without official assistance.

“Neither the district administration nor municipal staff were anywhere to be seen while we struggled to protect our shops,” lamented a local trader. Many shopkeepers denounced what they called “criminal negligence” and demanded action from the Punjab chief minister.

Floodwaters also entered residential neighbourhoods, damaging household belongings and cutting off access to essential facilities. Residents said their stoves had “gone cold” as cooking became impossible with kitchens submerged.

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The deluge even reached the district jail and sessions court, prompting the transfer of inmates to Lahore and Gujranwala prisons.

Schools Closed, Buildings Collapse

Authorities shut down all educational institutions across the district as heavy machinery was rushed in from Gujranwala to clear floodwaters. In Jalalpur Jattan, a two-storey vacant building collapsed after its foundations were weakened, though no casualties were reported.

Commissioner Gujranwala said a protective dam was being constructed near Madina Syedan to divert water into a storm drain, while clearance operations were underway.

Flood Risk Persists

Meanwhile, a second major flood wave in the Chenab River is advancing towards Head Trimmu, raising fears of fresh inundations in Punjab’s low-lying areas. Officials warn that continued rise in water levels could expand the impact well beyond Gujrat.

Extreme Weather Becoming Frequent

Just days earlier, on August 27, Sialkot had received 355mm of rainfall in a single spell, submerging entire neighbourhoods for days. Experts caution that such extreme downpours are becoming more frequent due to climate change, with Pakistan remaining among the most vulnerable nations to floods, landslides, and earthquakes driven by shifting weather patterns.