More rains predicted: Heavy downpour restricts movement on city roads

Roads inundated, rainwater enters houses in low-lying areas

LAHORE:

The downpour on Thursday flooded several roads in the city bringing life to a standstill.

Met Office recorded 55 millimetres of rain on Thursday, and more than 182mm since Wednesday afternoon. It said the wet spell would continue until late Friday (today). More rains have been forecast from September 10.

Heavy rain flooded Tikka Chowk in Johar Town, Bastami Road in Samanabad, Ichhra, Lawrence Road, Mason Road, Misri Shah, Haji Camp, Aik Moria Pul, Do Moria Pul, Bhati Gate, Sheranwala Gate, Cooper Road and Shadman.



Traffic in Tikkah Chowk, Lawrence Road, Chowk Nakhuda, Bhati Gate and Cooper Road had to be diverted.

Drains in several areas were choked and rainwater entered houses in low-lying areas. Damage to household items, including furniture, was reported in some houses in Samanabad, Ichhra and Iqbal Town.

Some officials from the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) said the city drainage system was deigned to handle up to 100mm of rain in one go.

The Wasa says there are 24 low points in the city where rainwater accumulates. It says 11 disposal stations are working round the clock to drain rainwater.

A water supply pipe leaked along a road in Gulberg. A six-foot-wide and four-foot-deep depository was formed in Alhamd Colony due to heavy rain.

Wasa Public Relations Officer Imtiaz Ghauri said rainwater had been cleared in many areas. He said four emergency squads and 28 vehicles were on alert. He said 1,800 work-charge employees and 900 Wasa employees were on field duty.



There were many power outages on Wednesday and Thursday as several power feeders went offline.

Chief Meteorologist (floods) Muhammad Riaz said flood warnings had been issued for Mangla on River Jhelum, Rajwat, Sialkot and Gujrat.

He said water level in River Chenab was expected to rise at many points. He said there were chances of a high-level flood in the river. He said no flood warning had been issued for Lahore.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Asfandyar Baloch said the authorities would monitor water level at River Ravi.

“We will relocate makeshift colonies along the river, if need be.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2014.