At least 3 killed in rain-related incidents across Punjab; parts of Lahore inundated

LAHORE: At least three people were killed and three others injured in rain-related incidents across Punjab on Monday, while torrential monsoon rains inundated roads and low-lying neighbourhoods in several cities, disrupting traffic, restricting public movement and causing urban flooding. The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Saturday forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across parts of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan until Aug 4. According to a loss and damage report by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), a man was killed and another injured when a house collapsed in Uch Sharif area of Bahawalpur district, while two children drowned in Khushab. Two more people were injured in separate roof collapse incidents in Mandi Bahauddin and Lodhran. The report also recorded a house damaged in Bahawalpur. Separately, authorities reported nine deaths in incidents not directly linked to rain or flooding. These included the drowning of a child in Kot Addu, a man in Narowal, and one man and two children in Attock. Four children also died of suffocation after being trapped inside a car in Mianwali. A PDMA official clarified that these nine deaths did not have anything to do with rain or floods, adding that the victims drowned while trying to bathe and swim in canals and rivers. PDMA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa directed deputy commissioners across Punjab to remain on high alert as the ongoing monsoon spell was expected to continue until Aug 5. He said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was personally monitoring the situation and instructed all district administrations, Rescue 1122, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and other relevant departments to keep their personnel and machinery on standby to respond to any emergency. Jappa said the Provincial Control Room and all District Emergency Operation Centres had been activated and were monitoring the situation round the clock.

He directed authorities to ensure the immediate drainage of rainwater from low-lying areas and identified waterlogging points to minimise disruption to public life. He also advised citizens to avoid electricity poles, hanging power lines, dilapidated buildings and mud houses during the rains, urging parents to keep children away from accumulated rainwater. Heavy rain lashed Lahore for several hours, causing extensive waterlogging in many parts of the provincial capital. Rainwater accumulated at levels ranging from one to one-and-a-half feet deep in Township, Kacha Jail Road, Haider Road and Quaid-i-Azam Industrial Estate, submerging several major roads and severely disrupting traffic. Long queues of vehicles formed on inundated roads as commuters struggled to reach their destinations, while residents in affected localities were forced to use alternative routes. Waterlogging in low-lying areas also affected the drainage system, slowing traffic at numerous locations and limiting people’s movement. Residents urged Wasa and the district administration to expedite drainage operations and restore the smooth flow of traffic. According to Wasa Lahore’s monsoon control room, the city received an average rainfall of 24.8 millimetres. The highest level of rainfall was recorded at Wasa Head Office Gulberg (66.4mm), followed by Shadipura (58.8mm), Mughalpura (55.6mm), Mannawan (46.4mm) and Johar Town (45.6mm). Other areas receiving significant rainfall included Tajpura (38.4mm), Farrukhabad (21.8mm), Kahna (20mm), Nishtar Town (19.8mm) and Airport (15mm).

Urban flooding was also reported from several other cities, with Faisalabad receiving the heaviest downpour, recording 103mm of rainfall according to the ponding report issued by the Wasa Head Office. Water accumulated up to 23 inches at Chaudhry Flour Mills Chowk, 20 inches at Lower Canal on Jaranwala Road, 19 inches at Saad Bela (People’s Colony No 1), 17 inches each at Riaz Shahid Chowk and Iqbal Stadium, and 15 inches at several locations, including Lasani Pulli, Millat Chowk, 66-Feet Bazar Nishatabad and D Ground. Wasa teams continued de-watering operations at dozens of inundated points across the city. In Gujrat, the maximum rainfall reached 68.8mm, with water accumulating between two and five inches at major locations, including Railway Road, Ghareeb Pura Road, Bhimber Road and Jalalpur Jattan Road. Wasa officials said clearance work was continuing at most locations, although several roads remained partially inundated. Mandi Bahauddin recorded 56.8mm of rainfall at the Wasa Laboratory gauge and 30mm at the Wasa Head Office. Water accumulated up to eight inches on Jail Road, four inches at College Chowk and Committee Chowk, and two inches at several other locations after the rain. In Jhelum, Wasa reported only 0.87mm of average rainfall and said no significant waterlogging remained by the afternoon, with all identified ponding points cleared. The widespread waterlogging was attributed to the intensity of the monsoon downpour, inadequate drainage capacity at several locations and the accumulation of runoff in low-lying urban areas, resulting in traffic congestion, restricted public movement and temporary inundation of residential neighbourhoods. Wasa teams and district administrations continued drainage operations across affected cities throughout the day.