Lahore records 343 mm of rain in 48 hours as authorities intensify drainage operations across city
A traffic police officer redirects traffic as heavy monsoon rains lash Lahore for the second day. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
At least 43 people have been killed and 177 others injured in monsoon-related incidents in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), disaster management authorities of the two provinces said on Thursday, as heavy rains continued to lash parts of the country, prompting fresh flood warnings and more downpours.
The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said at least 21 people have been killed and 154 others injured in monsoon-related incidents this year. Lahore received 343 mm of rain in the last 48 hours, prompting authorities to launch large-scale drainage operations across the provincial capital.
In KP, the PDMA said at least 22 people were killed and 23 injured in rain-related incidents. The authority warned that intermittent heavy rain is likely to continue throughout Thursday.
The death toll in KP included nine men, 10 children and three women, while the injured were 11 men, five women and seven children.
flooded lahore
The latest deaths in Punjab were reported as Lahore entered a second straight day of incessant monsoon rains, with roads, underpasses and low-lying neighborhoods submerged, disrupting traffic across the city and exposing weaknesses in the provincial capital’s drainage system.
A 19-year-old motorcyclist was seriously injured after being electrocuted while riding in rainwater in Lahore as heavy rains flooded more than 130 places across Lahore, disrupting traffic and prompting authorities to urge residents to avoid unnecessary trips.
Rescue 1122 said the victim, identified as Mukhtar’s son Rehman, suffered an electric shock while passing through stagnant rainwater on a motorcycle in Chungi Amar Sidhu area. He was shifted to Lahore General Hospital in critical condition.
The latest incident occurred when overnight rain left several roads in phases 1 to 5 of the DHA flooded, disrupting traffic in the entire area. Ghazi and Masjid Chowk underpasses were closed due to flooding, while traffic was diverted via alternative routes.
Around two feet of water accumulated between Defense Mor and Block A check post, slowing down traffic, while vehicles were also diverted along the Lalak Jan Chowk-LUMS, Wateen Chowk-LUMS and Main Boulevard stretches due to stagnant water.
The DHA administration said drainage teams were working at the affected places, with water pumps activated to clear the flood water and restore normal traffic conditions.
Meanwhile, Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) said rain damaged an 11 kV power line near Quaid-e-Azam industrial area and Kacha Jail Road. The affected feeder was closed as a precautionary measure while repair and restoration work continued.
A sinkhole appeared at Khayaban-e-Firdousi, prompting the traffic police to cordon off the area, put up barriers and divert vehicles to alternative routes. The Lahore traffic chief directed the concerned department to carry out immediate repairs.
In a separate incident, a deep sinkhole measuring about 10 square feet formed on the Bhikay Wala Mor service road towards Farooq Hospital after part of the road collapsed. The area was sealed off, WASA teams were dispatched and traffic was diverted while repair work was organised.
According to the PDMA, roof and building collapses accounted for 15 of the 21 deaths, making structural failures the leading cause of deaths during the current monsoon wave. Two people died from a lightning strike, three electrocuted and one drowned.
The authority also reported partial damage to 38 homes, while one head of cattle died.
Earlier Thursday, two teenage brothers were killed in a traffic accident due to rain. According to the Lahore traffic police, the brothers were traveling from Lahore to Kasur when their motorcycle skidded on the rain-soaked road and crashed into a footpath near gate number 2 on the Central Park road towards Kasur.
The victims, identified as Hamza Arif, 18, and his brother Hassan Arif, 16, died at the scene. Traffic police and rescue teams reached the spot immediately after receiving reports of the accident.
A traffic police spokesperson said preliminary findings suggested that the motorcycle lost control due to slippery road conditions.
Also read: Urban flooding and fatal electrocution expose Lahore’s drainage challenges amid Punjab’s response to monsoon
Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Lahore Syed Abdul Raheem Shirazi expressed grief over the deaths and urged motorists, particularly motorcyclists, to take extra caution during the wet weather.
“Drive motorcycles very carefully and at appropriate speed during rain,” the CTO said, urging drivers to wear helmets and avoid speeding and dangerous overtaking on slippery roads.
According to the traffic police, waterlogging was reported at more than 130 places in Lahore, including Chuburji Chowk, Jain Mandir, Library Chowk, Shalimar Chowk, Ghazi Road, Children’s Hospital, Barkat Market and Chungi Amar Sidhu.
Traffic police advised motorists to drive at safe speeds, maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and avoid sudden braking. Motorcyclists were urged to wear helmets, avoid unnecessary overtaking and refrain from riding on flooded roads without first assessing the water level.
The advisory also urged residents to stay away from downed power poles, transformers, feeders and power lines, and to avoid taking shelter under trees, weak walls, signs or building structures during rains.
The CTO appealed to residents to avoid unnecessary travel, check traffic conditions before leaving home and follow the instructions of WASA officials and traffic wardens in flooded areas. “With a little caution, we can save precious lives,” Shirazi said.
Read more: Rain death toll in KP rises to 20, more rain forecast: PDMA
PDMA Director General Umar Abbas Meela ordered all district administrations to remain on high alert during the second monsoon period, warning of the risk of urban flooding and flash floods.
He said the Punjab government was ensuring that the injured received the best possible medical treatment, while the families of the deceased would receive financial assistance of between Rs 1 million and Rs 5 million under the provincial government’s compensation policy.
Meela also directed deputy commissioners to enforce Section 144 along rivers and streams to prevent people from entering dangerous areas.
He urged residents not to stay in dilapidated or structurally unsafe buildings, noting that the highest number of deaths was due to the collapse of old, weakened roofs.
Parents were also advised to keep children away from electricity poles, overhead power lines and low-lying areas, saying precautionary measures could help prevent further loss of life and property.
KP on alert
The KP PDMA reported damage to 37 houses, of which 29 were partially damaged and eight completely destroyed after four days of rain.
Casualties and damage were reported in Peshawar, Nowshera, Khyber, Mardan, Buner, Bajaur, Shangla, Swabi, Lower Chitral, Lower and Upper Dir, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Tank, Tor Ghar, Kurram and North and South Waziristan.
The authority said it was coordinating relief efforts with Rescue 1122, district administrations and other relevant agencies, while directing local authorities to accelerate relief operations and ensure immediate assistance and relief supplies for affected families.
Despite the heavy rain, the PDMA said water levels in the province’s rivers and streams remained within normal limits. However, all district administrations were put on alert as intermittent heavy rains were expected to continue.
The authority urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from vulnerable tourist destinations and follow official weather warnings.
More rain forecast
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that another wave of widespread heavy rain is expected over the next 24 hours in Lahore, other parts of Punjab, Kashmir and the Islamabad-Rawalpindi region.
The department warned that urban flooding, flash flooding in local streams and landslides are possible in Murree and Galiyat, and urged authorities and the public to take precautionary measures.
