Rain mitigates heats, disrupts city life

Area around old dam in Mianwali flooded

MIANWALI/ LAHORE:

Rainfall swept across Lahore and its surrounding areas on Saturday evening, bringing relief from sweltering heat but causing widespread disruptions.

The showers, varying from light to moderate intensity, impacted several localities, including Lakshmi Chowk, Shimla Pahari, Shahdara, Davis Road, Misri Shah, The Mall, Chauburji, Johar Town, Township, Green Town, Iqbal Town, Gulberg, Mozang, Ferozepur Road, Ichhra and Samanabad.

According to reports, the Shahi Qilla received the heaviest downpour of 50mm, followed by Iqbal Town with 46mm, Lakshmi Chowk 38mm, Tajpura 37mm and Shahdara 35mm. Significant rainfall was also recorded in Gulberg (33mm), Upper Mall (32mm), Township (31mm), Punjab University (30mm), Misri Shah (27mm), Johar Town (26mm), Mughalpura (23mm), Gulshan-e-Ravi (23mm) and Samanabad (22mm). While the rain brought a welcome drop in temperature, providing residents respite from the recent heatwave, it also led to widespread power outages, plunging many areas into darkness.

The heavy rainfall caused severe waterlogging in low-lying areas, creating major challenges for commuters.

In response, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC), Municipal Corporation Lahore (MCL) and other local authorities were placed on high alert. The agencies were mobilised to ensure public safety and address any emerging issues.

Along with the relief from the heat, the rain raised concerns about potential flooding.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued warnings of possible flash floods in various regions, including Dera Ghazi Khan, Koh-e-Sulaiman and parts of Balochistan, due to expected continued heavy rains.

The warning extends to Lahore and parts of northeast Punjab, where urban flooding could affect low-lying areas.

Rain, wind and thunderstorms are forecast over the weekend in Punjab , Sindh, eastern Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Pothohar region and Kashmir, with heavy rainfall expected in northeast Punjab.

Authorities have also warned of potential landslides that could lead to road closures in hilly areas of Murree and Galiyat

In the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall was recorded in several regions, including 87mm in Dera Ghazi Khan city, 84 mm in Jhang and 82 mm in Narowal.

Meanwhile, an intense storm caused destruction in the Chichali Chapri area of Mianwali, where heavy rainfall resulted in landslides and the formation of a lake near an old dam.

The lake overflowed due to the pressure of the heavy rainfall, causing flooding in the surrounding areas.

According to the local sources, the floodwaters destroyed crops and infrastructure, including 11,000kV main line poles in Chichali Chapri. The local people informed FESCO officials that the electric poles had fallen in Chichali.

The stormy floodwaters are raging and there are fears that the Chichali Bridge may also be washed away.

A resident said the pillars of the bridge had been damaged and the structure was on the verge of collapse. Efforts to stop the floodwaters appear to have proven ineffective so far.