Eight people have lost their lives as heavy rain and thunderstorms continue to lash parts of Punjab, causing flooding and damage to property. The city of Lahore has been severely affected, with intermittent rain expected to persist throughout the day.
Tragically, two young boys lost their lives in Lahore due to the excessive rainfall. A 17-year-old boy drowned under the Do Moria Pull, while a 12-year-old boy drowned near Thokar Niaz Baig. The Deputy Commissioner of Lahore, Raafia Haider, has taken notice of the deaths and urged citizens to keep children away from water to prevent further accidents.
In Mansehra, three dilapidated houses collapsed due to heavy rain, resulting in the deaths of three people, including two children and a woman. Additionally, four people were injured in the incident. Phalia also experienced casualties when the roof of a house collapsed, claiming one life and injuring another.
The rainfall has caused low-lying areas and main roads in Lahore to be submerged, leading to difficult travel conditions. Several areas, such as Gulshan-e-Ravi, Tajpura, Lakshmi Chowk, Nishtar Town, Pani wala Talab, Johar Town, Qartaba Chowk, Iqbal Town, Mughalpura, Upper Mall, and Samanabad, have reported high rainfall levels.
With the rain spell expected to continue for around three hours, there is a threat of urban flooding in Lahore. Authorities are on high alert, and Punjab’s Chief Minister has ordered immediate drainage of water in low-lying areas. The administration is using all available resources and machinery to address the situation on an emergency basis.
The torrential rain has also caused disruptions in the electricity supply. More than 70 feeders of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) have tripped, leaving many areas without power. LESCO has advised people to stay away from electrical installations during the rain and avoid erecting structures under high-voltage power lines and transformers.
Apart from Lahore, other regions in Punjab have also experienced heavy rainfall. The Chenab river, receiving water from India, has seen an increase in flow at Trimmu Barrage and Marala Barrage Sialkot. Similarly, the Ravi river and Sutlej river continue to receive water from India, causing concerns over potential flooding.
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The heavy rain and drizzle have also been reported in other parts of the country. Azad Jammu and Kashmir have experienced continuous rain for the fourth day, leading to the shutdown of link roads and flooding of rivers and canals. Several areas in Nankana Sahib, Sharaqpur Sharif, Shakargarh, Pakpattan, Dadu, Daska, Narowal, Deepalpur, Pattoki, Ghanche, Ghizer, Renala Khurd, and Muzaffarabad have also been affected.
In Lower Chitral, heavy rain has caused havoc, damaging shops, workshops, and service stations. Floodwater has inundated windmills, cattle sheds, roads, and bridges. The Chitral river is experiencing an exceptionally high level of flood, leading residents to evacuate to safer areas.
As the rain continues, authorities and citizens must remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to minimize the impact of the weather-related disasters.
