Key Takeaways
- Lahore received 343 millimetres of rain over the past 48 hours.
- 154 people were injured, and 21 died in rain-related incidents across Punjab.
- Traffic movement was severely affected due to water accumulation on major roads.
Heavy monsoon rains lashed Lahore on Thursday, causing widespread disruption to daily life. The city received 343 millimetres of rainfall over the past 48 hours, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
Residents faced significant challenges as water accumulated at more than 130 locations across Lahore, with traffic movement severely affected in several areas. In DHA Phases 1 to 5, two feet of water disrupted traffic at multiple locations, while the Ghazi Underpass and Masjid Chowk Underpass were closed due to heavy water accumulation.
Traffic was also diverted through alternate routes from Lalak Jan Chowk to LUMS Road, Watain Chowk to LUMS, Main Boulevard DHA, and on the route from Masjid Chowk to Ghazi Chowk. Vehicles were stranded in rainwater on roads, forcing motorists to move slowly or avoid major roads altogether.
The rain exposed recurring urban drainage challenges as water entered houses in low-lying areas of the city. Citizens complained that authorities had not taken any measures to drain water from their homes, leaving them to remove it manually. Commuters faced delays and difficulties travelling through flooded roads and underpasses.
In addition to traffic disruptions, several deep sinkholes measuring around 10 square feet appeared on three to four roads across the city, including Canal Road, Johar Town Main Boulevard, and Bhekay Wala Mor, causing parts of the roads to collapse. Lahore traffic police cordoned off these areas and diverted traffic after WASA teams reached the sites.
The PDMA reported that so far, 21 people had died and 154 others were injured in rain-related incidents across Punjab during the ongoing monsoon season. Fifteen deaths occurred due to building collapses, two due to lightning strikes, three due to electrocution, and one person drowned. At least 38 houses also sustained partial damage.
PDMA Director General Umar Abbas Mela directed district administrations to remain on high alert and warned of urban flooding during the second spell of monsoon rains. Despite claims by the district administration and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Lahore that drainage operations were being carried out on an emergency basis, residents faced difficulties due to standing water on streets and underpasses.
