11 killed, several hurt as heavy rains paralyse life in Punjab, Balochistan

Lahore/ Quetta: Devastating monsoon rains lashed Lahore—the capital of Punjab—its adjoining districts, and parts of Balochistan, triggering severe flooding and widespread disruption. At least 11 people lost their lives, and several others sustained injuries.

Heavy downpours inundated low-lying areas and major roads in Lahore, exposing the city’s inadequate drainage system.

Data from WASA's monsoon control room revealed that Lahore received an average rainfall of 58.8 mm. The highest amounts were recorded in Nishtar Town (84 mm), Lakshmi Chowk (78 mm), and Pani Wala Talab (74 mm).

The first spell of rain lasted from 2:45 AM to 5:40 AM, while a second, more intense spell occurred between 10:45 AM and 12:11 PM.

The rains laid bare the inefficiencies of Lahore’s drainage infrastructure. Areas such as Jail Road (63 mm), Qurtaba Chowk (68 mm), and WASA's head office in Gulberg (69 mm) were submerged. The mixing of sewage with rainwater created a public health hazard, forcing residents to wade through contaminated water.

In a tragic incident at Yakki Gate, a child was electrocuted after coming into contact with an exposed wire. Meanwhile, numerous feeders of LESCO tripped across the city, leaving thousands without power for hours.

Rukhsana Bibi, a resident of Mughalpura, lamented, "We've been without electricity since morning, and the flooded streets have made it impossible for us to leave our homes."

Residents of Burki Road also reported severe hardship, stating that no drainage machinery was deployed until evening. They criticized WASA and the district administration for prioritizing elite neighborhoods.

The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) claimed that sanitation teams had been deployed and over 6,000 waste bins cleaned. However, citizens complained of little to no improvement on the ground.

Asif Mehmood, a shopkeeper at Lakshmi Chowk, said, "Main roads are still submerged, and no representative from the administration has shown up."

Conditions were especially dire in low-lying areas like Farooqabad (49 mm) and Johar Town (39 mm), where effective drainage systems are lacking.

Rainfall was also reported in several other districts across Punjab over the past 24 hours, including: Khanewal (51 mm), Rawalpindi (42 mm), Sahiwal (44 mm), Murree (41 mm), Okara (30 mm), Mandi Bahauddin (27 mm), Mangla (24 mm), and Toba Tek Singh (13 mm).

Rainfall was also recorded in Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Kasur, Bahawalnagar, Sargodha, Multan, and Jhang.