Six die as ‘record-breaking’ rain lashes Lahore

Lahore: Lahore, one of Pakistan's major cities, experienced severe flooding on Wednesday as incessant rain shattered a three-decade-old record.

Within a span of 10 hours, the city received over 290mm of rainfall, leading to the tragic death of at least six individuals, according to local officials.

The latest data released by the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) revealed that certain areas in Lahore received more than 200 millimetres of rain during the same 10-hour period. Among these areas, Lakshmi Chowk recorded the highest amount of rainfall with 291mm, followed by Nishter Town with 277mm, and Qurtaba Chowk with 270mm.

Other areas severely affected by the downpour include Gulshan-e-Ravi with 268mm, Pani Wala Talab with 268mm, Johar Town with 260mm, Tajpura with 249mm, Farrukhabad with 237mm, Iqbal Town with 232mm, Mughalpura with 215mm, the Wasa head office in Gulberg with 208mm, Chowk Nakhuda with 205mm, Upper Mall with 192mm, Samanabad with 178mm, Jail Road with 145mm, and the Airport with 127mm of rainfall.

After todays rain in lahore #lahore pic.twitter.com/BfU7k0ndzp

— Syed Mansoor Haider (@smansoorhaider) July 5, 2023

Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi acknowledged that this record-breaking rainfall had resulted in urban flooding, causing significant damage and loss of life. Speaking to the media, Naqvi reported that six people had died in various rain-related incidents, including electrocutions and roof collapses in different parts of the city. Naqvi expressed his concern via a tweet, stating that the overflowing canal had worsened the situation of urban flooding on Lahore's roads.

The provincial cabinet and entire administration promptly mobilized efforts to mitigate the impact of the rain and ensure the drainage of rainwater. Chief Minister Naqvi personally oversaw the relief activities and maintained close contact with the administration throughout the ongoing operations.

In addition to the flooding, the heavy rainfall also disrupted the electricity supply in several areas of Lahore. More than 200 feeders of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) tripped, resulting in power outages and plunging various parts of the city into darkness.

This is something we are used to with it while living in the City of Gardens Lahore... After Heavy Rain, Some Aweful Scenes near Johar Town who considered to be one of the Developed Area of Lahore...#Rainfall #Lahore #urbanflooding #rain pic.twitter.com/o4qEsOOTag

— Usman Khan (@usmann_khann) July 5, 2023

Taking notice of a power cable breakage in Lahore, the Prime Minister ordered an inquiry into the incident and directed that responsibility be determined, particularly if negligence is found on the part of the Lahore Electric Supply Company. The Prime Minister's office expects to be kept informed about all the arrangements and developments regarding the situation in Lahore.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Punjab Chief Minister to activate rescue teams immediately to address the situation arising from the heavy rains. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of coordination among the district administration, Rescue 1122, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), and other relevant departments. He urged the implementation of all necessary measures to safeguard lives and property.

Shehbaz Sharif assured that, if needed, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and federal departments would provide full support to the Punjab government. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of cautioning people, implementing alternative traffic arrangements, and ensuring effective drainage of water. He also called for preemptive protection measures in other parts of the country during the monsoon season, highlighting the need for assistance from the NDMA, PDMA, and provincial and district administrations in these preparations.