Canal overflow unleashes deluge

LAHORE:

Heavy rain in Lahore resulted in a critical situation on Wednesday when water overflowed from the Canal Road and started entering low-lying areas.

The water began entering the localities of Mughalpura, Garden Town, Muslim Town Mor, Gulberg and Jorhat Town. The flow in the canal increased as rainwater caused its water level to rise.

That residents of Garden Town were unable to leave their homes because of the flooding.

Additionally, both government and private offices and business centres were closed, while the water flowing on the roads towards surrounding areas affected commuters.

Lahore Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa told the media that the irrigation department had been contacted to stop the flow of water in the canal.

Officials said the heavy rain and flooding from the canal could pose difficulties for the affected population. Record-breaking rainfall caused the canal water to enter residential areas.

Arrangements by the authorities to handle such a situation proved inadequate.

Efforts were made throughout the night to reduce the water flow, but its level did not decrease.

The caretaker chief minister directed the commissioner to contact the irrigation department to take steps for reducing the water level in the canal. After more than two hours, the water level in the canal started to recede and the flooding was brought under control.

Inspector General Usman Anwar, realising in the morning the heavy downpour turning into a natural calamity, ordered all the traffic police field officers to go on roads and coordinate with the district administration and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) for relief work as well as flow of traffic.

The city traffic police engaged the wardens deputed in all shifts to deal with the emergency situation.

As per an official statement, the officials remained on the roads in an effort to maintain flow of traffic despite consistent rainfall.

Diversions were set up ahead of underpasses, chowks and roads innundated with rainwater to divert the traffic to safe routes. Additional traffic wardens were deployed at such points.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Mustansir Feroz visited different parts of the city, including Green Town, Township, Ferozpur Road, Kalma Chowk, Main Boulevard, Canal Road, Jail Road, Mozang, Mall Road, Secretariat Chow and MAO College. During his visit, he issued commendatory certificates for many wardens..

He said that despite heavy rainfall, the wardens along with lifter and breakdown vehicles had remained present in low-lying areas.

The traffic officials had been instructed to help the citizens needing assistance during the inclement weather. All the traffic police circle officers also remained in contact with Water and Sewerage Agency (WASA) administration regarding the road problems.

The official said the traffic had remained moving at a slow pace despite heavy inundation of roads.

Meanwhile, as the streets of Garden Town got flooded, many people's cars were damaged by the water.

Adnan, a young man residing in Manawan, shared that he had left his home for work but his motorcycle had developed a fault due to the rain. Muhammad Usman of Johar Town said he couldn't go to work.

He said he could not go anywhere in Garden Town and surrounding areas due to the inundation. He said he had not witnessed this much rainfall in the past.

Dr Javed from the General Hospital said rainwater had entered the wards, causing problems for the patients.

It had taken several hours to drain the water from the wards, he disclosed.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2023.