Late-night heavy rain submerges low-lying areas in Lahore

Lahore: The provincial capital and parts of Punjab experienced a powerful monsoon downpour on Monday night, causing low-lying areas to become submerged in rainwater.

The late-night torrential rainfall marked the third spell in Lahore and other parts of the Punjab province during the new monsoon season, which began on Sunday.

Intermittent and heavy rainfall continued in Lahore and parts of the province throughout Monday. 

According to WASA Lahore records, the rain first started at 10:30 AM on Monday, with heavy showers in many parts of the city. Throughout the day, the rain varied in intensity, sometimes heavy and sometimes light.

During last 24 hours, in Lahore the maximum rain was recorded 200 millimeters at Nishtar town, followed by 90 mm at Gulshan-e-Ravi, 86 mm Head Office Wasa, 82 mm Lakshami Chowk and 78 mm at Farrukh Abad station.

Meanwhile, widespread rain with scattered heavy falls occurred in other parts of the province.

The Met Office has forecasted scattered to widespread thunderstorms and rain with scattered heavy falls and isolated very heavy falls expected over Rawalpindi, Sargodha, and Gujranwala Divisions. Scattered thunderstorms and rain of moderate intensity with isolated heavy falls are also expected over the upper catchments of all the major rivers, along with Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Multan, and DG Khan.

The Met Office warned that heavy rains may generate urban flooding and flash flooding in local nullahs of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Kasur, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Dir, Swat, Peshawar, Mardan, Malakand, Bajaur, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Bannu, and Tank during the period. Rainfall may also trigger landslides in Kashmir, Galiyat, Murree, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Chillas, Diamir, Gilgit, Hunza, Astore, and Skardu during the forecast period. Travelers and tourists are advised to remain cautious during this time.