Heavy rain lashed the provincial capital on late Sunday night and left the low-lying areas, roads and street flooded. The downpour also triggered power outages in several areas as dozens of electricity feeders of the power utility company went offline.
Residents from several localities also complained about water entering their homes and vehicles. Traffic jams were also witnessed on city roads and major arteries remained blocked owing to water ponding. Heavy water ponding was witnessed in Township, Johar Town, Green Town, Garden Town, Shalimar Garden, Baghbanpura, Choburji, Muslim Town, Rahmanpura, Lawrence Underpass, Gulberg and Lakshmi Chowk.
Though officials of the local administration and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) were seen trying to drain rainwater from city roads, most areas of the city could not be cleared till the night.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Regional Meteorological Centre Director Muhammad Ajmal Shad said though the current monsoon rain spell had passed, there were still chances of local weather development as moisture level in the air was very high.
He indicated that around 107mm of rain was recorded at a few sites. Wet monsoon season was expected to continue till mid-September as the new rain spells would enter the country during the coming week.
Responding to a question, he said though little rain was observed in northern areas during the monsoon season, people should avoid visiting the upper parts as there was a risk of land sliding owing to slow rain.
Though the officials of the local administration and WASA were seen trying to drain rainwater from city roads, most areas of the city could not be cleared for several hours.
Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Ahmad Aziz Tarar along with WASA Managing Director Syed Zahid Aziz visited Lakshmi Chowk to inspect relief works. The LDA DG directed the officials concerned to take necessary action for quick discharge of rainwater from roads. All available resources including heavy machinery should be utilised for early drainage of rainwater. Both officials also inspected a recently constructed rainwater disposal station, which was working at its full capacity.
Meanwhile, the weather report issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) highlighted that monsoon currents were penetrating in upper parts of the country. A westerly wave is also affecting upper parts of the country. Rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms are expected at scattered places in Kashmir, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Sahiwal, Okara, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, DG Khan and Layyah districts.
Moderate to heavy rainfall is also expected at a few places in Kashmir, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Lahore areas. Hot and humid weather, dust raising winds are expected across Punjab.
The report highlighted that rain wind-thunderstorm occurred at scattered places in Kashmir, Lahore, Narowal and Sialkot districts and at isolated places in Gujranwala, Attock, Gujrat, Mandi Bahuddin, Sialkot and Khushab districts. The weather remained hot and humid in all other districts of the province on Sunday and Monday.
The date shows that 58mm of rain was recorded at Lahore Airport, 54mm in Narowal, 41.6mm at Sialkot Airport, 25mm in Lahore City, 23mm in Muzaffarabad City, 17mm at Muzaffarabad Airport, 16.6mm at Islamabad Airport, 15.2mm in Chakwal, 12.4mm in Gujranwala, 12mm in Islamabad City, 7mm in Murree, 3.8mm in Chaklala-Rawalpindi, 3mm in Attock, 3mm in Rawalakot, Gujrat and Kotli and 1mm in Garhi Dopatta. Traces of rain were recorded in Mandi Bahuddin, Jhelum, Sialkot, Kamra, and Joharabad.
Weather forecast for today
Rain with gusty winds, thunderstorm are expected at scattered places in Kashmir, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Sahiwal, Okara and Pakpattan districts. Moderate to heavy fall is also expected at a few places in Kashmir, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Lahore. Hot and humid weather is expected elsewhere in Punjab.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2020.
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