At least four people died after another spell of heavy rains battered the provincial capital disrupting the routine life and submerging several low-lying areas in the metropolis.
Knee-deep water gathered on main arteries, important roundabouts, buildings, markets and residential areas after night-long heavy rain spell.
The rain also adversely affected power supply in the provincial metropolis as the power outages were reported in various parts of the city. The heavy downpour also hit the transport system. Public transport service was impeded. The commuters on private vehicles either remained stranded due to water overflow on the roads or traffic congestion.
The met office recorded 171 milimetres (mm) of rain in the city. On Jail Road 90mm, Airport 128mm, Head office WASA Gulberg 112 mm, Lakshami Chowk 152mm, Upper Mall 107mm, Mughalpura SDO Office 109mm, Tajpura SDO Office 136mm, Nishter Town Director Office 109mm, Chowk Na Khuda 120mm and in Pani Wala Talab 171mm rain was reported.
It reportedly started early at night and continued till mid-day with intervals. The few hours rain inundated all parts of the city whether posh, low lying or peripheral.
Huge ponds of rainwater were witnessed on several main roads, roundabout and residential areas including Hamdard Chowk, Kot Lakhpat, Township, Johar Town, Model Town, Liberty Chowk, Gulberg, Gulshan-e-Ravi, Sabzazar, Shimla Pahadi, Do Muriya Pull, Tajpura, Laal Pull, Walton Road, Ferozpur Road, Assembly Secretariat, Sessions court, High Court, Sports Complex, Gaddafi Stadium, Punjab Stadium, FBR office in Front of Mauj Dariya, Lorry Ada and the Lahore Railway Station.
The flow of traffic was completely disrupted on several major arteries of the city. Bhatti Gate to Shah Alam Market and Lorry Ada to Lahore Railway Station. In Bhatti Gate area, the people used donkey-carts and tangaws also for transportation purposes. On Kot Lakhpat Railway Station track, multiple feet deep water had accumulated. Resultantly, the train schedule was also affected.
Intracity buses, vans, rickshaws also suspended their service in the city. Those on private vehicles also faced difficulty as the vehicles would either not start or go off while on roads due to rain. On other roads, the traffic was impeded due to congestion.
The business activity overall was also damaged to the rain. Additionally, few markets remained closed down due to rainwater. in Badami Bagh Sabzi Mandi, at least four feet deep water had accumulated. Besides economic activity, valuables in shops were also destroyed. The Firdous Market Underpass was also inundated due to the rainwater.
Due to heavy rain 110 feeders of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) were also tripped. The power supply remained suspended to several areas including Bagrihan, Shah Jamal, Asif Town, Nabipura, Wasanpura, Ferozepur Road and Sitara Colony.
The rain-related accidents claimed four lives in the city including two minors. The first case was reported in Chowk Yateem Khana where a 10-year-old boy identified as Hussain Dilawar died of electrocution. Separately, a prayer leader Muhammad Shahzad died of electrocution. He suffered an electric shock while placing mud at the roof of the mosque. A seven-year-old girl died due to electrocution in Kot Lakhpat and a 42-year-old man in Sodiwal.
As the situation turned serious, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar asked the officers concerned to make arrangements for draining the rainwater. The CM also visited several areas of the city.
Lahore Commissioner Zulfiqar Ghumman paid a visit around the city including areas Lawrence Road, Mall Road, Lakshami Chowk, Railway Track and issued instructions for making arrangements for sewerage of the rainwater.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2020.
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