Death toll rises as heavy rains pound Lahore
MORE THAN 250MM OF RAIN RECEIVED IN THE CITY WITHIN 24 HOURS, MARKING A RECORD
The blessing of monsoon turned into a nightmare for Lahore residents as heavy rains continued to lash the city yesterday, flooding streets and killing six people, while forcing the authorities to declare an emergency.
At least six people were killed and several injured in rain-related incidents across the city. Four people died of electric shocks while two others were killed after a building collapsed.
“Operations are being mounted across Lahore,” a Rescue 1122 spokesperson said.
Authorities declared the emergency after hours-long heavy rain wreaked havoc in different areas of Lahore since Monday. Rescuers began a boat service to transport stranded residents.
Most residents also suffered long power outages as more than 200 electricity feeders tripped due to the rain. The weather also disrupted flight operations at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.
More than 252mm of rain had been received in the city over 24 hours, breaking the record of past 38 years, according to local media. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned of more rain in the next 48 to 72 hours.
Submerged
Rainwater swamped most of the major city roads and entered houses situated in lowlying areas. Incessant rain affected construction work on the Orange Line Metro Train project several main roads caved in.
Several areas of Lahore, including Bagh-e-Jinnah Lahore, were submerged in rain water, while Mall Road gave the impression of a canal. Vexed by worsening condition on roads, many people took to social media to criticise poor planning and drainage construction by the previous government.
“Our rulers made false promises of transforming Lahore into Paris but the city has now turned into Venice instead, as the whole city of Lahore is submerged in rain water,” Khaliq Hameed, a resident said.
Yesterday, the caretaker chief minister of Punjab, Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi, visited the rainaffected areas of Lahore to review the arrangements in the city. He went to Laxmi Chowk, GPO, Nisbat Road and adjourning areas to monitor the relief activities and directed Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to make adequate arrangements for smooth drainage of the rain waters and provide all possible relief to the residents.
According to the Meteorological Department, more heavy rains are expected this month.
Thunderstorms with gusty winds are expected in several areas including Hazara, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad divisions, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, while at isolated places in Malakand, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, D.I. Khan and Sahiwal divisions.
Rainwater swamped most of the major city roads and entered houses situated in low-lying areas. Incessant rain affected construction work on the Orange Line Metro Train project after several main roads caved in.