Rains lash South Punjab

MULTAN: Heavy rains lashed several cities of South Punjab on Wednesday. The rain continued for hours paralysing routine life and causing damage to property in various cities.

The heavy downpour resulted in disruption of electricity in several districts while hundreds of complaints wereThe heavy downpour resulted in disruption of electricity in several districts registered on power utility’s toll free number.  Complaints of tripping of feeders were also reported in some areas however, electricity was restored after a few hours.

Meanwhile, traffic chaos was witnessed in many cities due to rainfall, including Sialkot and others. Commuters were stranded in traffic jams for hours as rainwater accumulated on major thoroughfares.



Auto mechanics had a field day, as many vehicles broke down in rainwater, which had accumulated on various roads.

According to the weather advisory issued by Metrological Department, more rains accompanied by gusty winds and isolated heavy falls was expected at a number of places in Punjab.

The met office forecast widespread thunderstorm/rain with heavy falls at scattered places and very heavy falls at isolated places in upper catchments of Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions over the next 24 hours.



Earlier in May, heavy rainfall had lashed Bahawalpur reducing the temperature which had gone up to 47 degrees Celsius. Due to the heavy downpour, the weather had become pleasant and people in large numbers thronged parks and other public places to enjoy the cool weather.

The rainfall also brought a sigh of relief for the people of Cholistan as the region was facing a severe threat of drought.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2017.