More Rain Forecast: Life disrupted by 120mm of rain

LAHORE: More than 120mm of rain fell in 12 hours on Monday, and the monsoon spell will continue for the next two to three days, the Meteorological Department said. Yesterday brought the heaviest rain of the monsoon season so far. Heavy showers began soon after sehar and continued into the afternoon and early evening. The rain brought relief in the form of cooler temperatures, but also a myriad of inconveniences for Lahoris. Apart from causing massive traffic jams as cars and motorcycles broke down on the roads, rainwater seeped into people’s houses in low-lying areas and residents were seen trying to protect their belongings from water damage. Attendance at most offices and markets was thin, a lack of public transport and CNG for vehicles, as well as the jammed roads, giving people an excuse to stay at home. The rain was particularly inconvenient in areas where the ground has been dug up for road and sanitation works. For example, parts of Allam Iqbal Road and Ghari Shahu became impassable because of mud.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2011.