Multan lashed by rain, hailstorms

Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) administration issued a citywide red alert after a heavy spell of rain on Sunday afternoon. Managing Director WASA Chaudhry Muhammad Danish issued an emergency notice at all sewerage disposal stations and directed officers and staff to reach the field at the earliest.

According to Met officials, rain, coupled with heavy winds and hail forced citizens to remain indoors. Rainwater inundated the roads and streets, disrupting routine life and heavy winds disturbed MEPCO's power supply system. Rain continued in the city intermittently and officials said that the rainy spell would continue for two more days across the region.

MD WASA tasked the officers concerned to ensure all stand-by generators are operational and issued instructions to run all disposal stations at full capacity and sought pictures of standing rainwater at underpasses from the officers concerned. He further directed officers to remove manhole covers at ponding areas for the drainage of rainwater, adding that staff would remain in the field until all rainwater is drained.

The city and its surrounding areas received 22.3mm of rain, with heavy winds and hailstorms on Sunday evening. In spite of the risk of flooding, the downpour cooled the area down and gave citizens relief from the scorching summer heat.

Deputy Director Agriculture Extension Muhammad Zafar told the media that heavy winds were not favorable for the mango orchard, while hailstorms threatened all crops.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2023.