Key Takeaways
- WASA recorded 25mm of rain in Lahore on Tuesday.
- Nishter Town received the highest rainfall with 86.4mm.
- A sinkhole developed on Khayaban-e-Firdousi due to heavy rainfall.
Light to moderate rain lashed various parts of Lahore on Tuesday, as recorded by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) with an average rainfall of 25mm. The first spell began at 3:20am and continued until 5:30am, followed by a second from 9:50am to 10:30am, and another from 11:12am to 4pm, with the final spell starting at 5:53pm. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast further rain during the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, warning that the weather system could continue until July 24.
Rainfall data showed Nishter Town receiving the highest rainfall of 86.4mm, followed by Johar Town with 51mm, Kahna with 36.4mm, Airport with 36mm, Upper Mall with 33mm, Gulshan-e-Ravi with 30mm, Samanabad with 27mm, Pani Wala Talab with 22mm, Iqbal Town with 22mm and Saggian with 18mm. The PMD’s Jail Road station recorded 18mm rain, while around 11mm rainfall was recorded at Lahore Airport until 5pm.
A sinkhole developed on Khayaban-e-Firdousi after heavy rainfall in the area, causing disruption to traffic flow. WASA teams along with heavy machinery reached the site and started restoration work. WASA Vice Chairman Chaudhry Shahbaz Ahmed, along with Deputy Managing Director Abdul Latif, monitored rain-related operations in different areas.
The vice chairman visited the Monsoon Emergency Relief Camp at Liberty Chowk and reviewed arrangements. Officials briefed him about ongoing operations, while an inspection of the underground water tank at Gaddafi Stadium was also carried out to assess rainwater management. Chaudhry Shahbaz directed officers and field staff to ensure continuous monitoring of drainage operations. He emphasized immediate removal of rainwater from low-lying areas, underpasses, and major roads as a top priority.
WASA Managing Director Ghufran Ahmed supervised drainage operations from the monsoon control room, where the city’s situation was being monitored through more than 200 live cameras. The agency stated that all underpasses were under constant surveillance, while over 21 monsoon emergency relief camps were operational across Lahore. Machinery and staff were deployed at major hotspots to ensure timely drainage.
Meanwhile, Punjab Secretary for Food Safety and Consumer Protection Dr Kiran Khurshid directed officials to take comprehensive flood preparedness measures to protect wheat stocks during the monsoon season. The directives were issued during a high-level meeting chaired by Dr Khurshid to review the department’s e-filing system, pre-flood arrangements, and security of wheat reserves. The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Administration Farwa Amir, Additional Director General Punjab Food Authority Rao Pervez Akhtar, and Additional Director General Consumer Protection Azuba Azeem.
