According to PMD, rainfall measurements include 35 mm in Nishtar Town, 29.4 mm in Johar Town and 11.4 mm in Gulberg.
LAHORE:
Heavy rain accompanied by hailstorms and strong winds disrupted routine life in Lahore on Tuesday, flooding low-lying areas, causing widespread power outages and leading to the abandonment of a key Pakistan Super League match.
Persistent rain forced the PSL management to call off the match between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi at the Gaddafi Stadium, where the ground staff covered the pitch and outfield with protective sheets.
Across the city, heavy downpour was reported in Gulberg, Kalma Chowk, Ferozepur Road, Nishtar Town, Wapda Town, Township, Johar Town and surrounding areas. The rainfall caused a notable drop in temperature and improved weather conditions, but also caused significant urban flooding in several locations.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, rainfall measurements included 35 millimeters in Nishtar Town, 29.4 mm in Johar Town, 11.4 mm in Gulberg and smaller accumulations in Jail Road, Samanabad, Iqbal Town and other areas. Hail was also reported in parts of the city, including Shimla Pahari.
The accumulation of rainwater once again exposed the vulnerabilities of Lahore’s drainage as streets in low-lying areas were submerged, slowing traffic and creating dangerous conditions for commuters.
“Even moderate rain floods our entire street,” said Adil Butt, a resident of Mughalpura. “Water quickly enters homes and takes hours to leave.”
Motorists also reported serious difficulties. “You can’t see the potholes underwater and the traffic just collapses,” said a China Scheme commuter. “It becomes risky even to ride a motorcycle.”
The storm also affected the power supply, with more than 100 feeders disconnected throughout the city. Lahore Electric Supply Company officials said the outages were caused by sudden system loading and weather-related failures, adding that restoration efforts were underway.
The current climate pattern is part of a broader system that affects multiple regions. The Pakistan Meteorological Department said a westerly wave is expected to further influence weather conditions, with more rain and thunderstorms likely in Lahore and other parts of Punjab in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority has issued a high alert, forecasting rain, windstorms and thunderstorms across the country from March 31 to April 5. The authority warned that strong gusts could trigger flood-like situations in parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, with isolated hailstorms also expected.
Intermittent rains are forecast in Islamabad and several cities of Punjab including Rawalpindi, Murree, Gujrat, Sialkot and Lahore, while southern districts may also receive scattered rains. Authorities have warned that worsening weather conditions could disrupt transportation and damage weak infrastructure.
Despite a brief drop in temperatures that offered some relief, the latest spell of rain has once again exposed the city’s persistent deficiencies in rainwater management.
Experts warned that without substantial improvements to drainage infrastructure, particularly in low-lying areas, even routine seasonal rains would likely continue to disrupt urban mobility and paralyze daily life. The warning underscored long-standing concerns about the city’s readiness to handle increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
