Four killed as rain wreaks havoc in Multan

WASA is busy pumping out water from makeshift cattle markets

MULTAN: Torrential rain on Thursday wrought havoc on the creaky civic infrastructure of Multan, causing massive urban flooding and widespread power outages, as the Pakistan Meteorological Department said the first monsoon spell was likely to lose its strength in the next 24 hours.

The downpour, which began in the city on Wednesday night, intensified on Thursday night, dumping a total of 67.4mm (a little over two inches) of rainfall over 48 hours. The Met office said the monsoon has brought more rainfall in the city than anywhere else in the country.

Rescue officials and police said four people including two children lost their lives in rain-related accidents in Multan. Water and sanitation agency (WASA) made extra ordinary arrangements to pump out stagnating water in makeshift cattle markets for sacrificial animals.

All the low lying areas like Farooqpura, Shaheen Market, Pak-gate, Bohar Gate, Delhi Gate, Khuni Burj, Bava Safra, Chowk Shah Abbas, Peer Colony No 1, 2, 3, Suraj Kund Road, Pull Mauj Darya Road, Hassanabad were flooded with two feet deep water.

Rain also hit the sale and purchase of sacrificial animals badly. Heavy rain in the wee hours of Thursday lashed several areas of the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2017.