Six people die as rain wreaks havoc in Lahore

LAHORE: At least six people lost their lives as a record downpour flooded most parts of the provincial capital on Wednesday.

Lahore received 291mm of rain in just 10 hours, breaking a 30-year-old record. Visuals on various news channels and social media posts showed most of the city submerged in rainwater.

A large majority of the population was confined to flooded houses while commuters were facing all sorts of problems in water-logged roads and streets. Electricity supply in almost all areas was cut-off to avoid any untoward incident.

“Three people were electrocuted, two died after roofs collapsed, and a child drowned in accumulated rainwater,” Punjab’s Interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi told journalists in Lahore.

Citing climate change and a strong monsoon, Lahore Commissioner Mohammad Ali Randhawa said the city received 291mm of rain with more than a dozen areas getting 200mm of rain.

He claimed that the city administration and other related organisations were trying their best to drain accumulated rainwater from various areas.

According to the commissioner, Lahore received 288mm of rain in 2018. However, he said, the city hasn’t received this much rain in such a short span of time in 30 years.

According to WASA Monsoon Control Room, the details of the amount of rain in various areas of the city thus far were: Lakhsmi Chowk (291mm), Nishter Town (277mm), Qurtaba Chowk (270mm), Gulshan-e-Ravi (268mm), Pani Wala Talab (268mm), Johar Town (260mm), Tajpura (249mm) and Iqbal Town (232mm).

CM Naqvi said record-breaking rain had caused urban flooding while the canal overflowed following heavy downpours.

“All the cabinet members and administration are in the field to clear the water. I am also monitoring the situation in the field and getting updates from all over Lahore continuously,” the chief minister said as he visited the city to oversee relief operations.

Meanwhile, at least three people died in rain-related incidents in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to a Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) report, two people died in Shangla and one in Karak.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the Punjab government to take urgent measures and mobilise the rescue teams amidst heavy rains in the province.

The prime minister called for coordinated efforts by the district administration, Rescue 1122, Provincial Disaster Management Authority, municipal and other departments, saying that all possible measures should be taken to protect the citizens’ lives, according to a PM Office statement.

He instructed the National Disaster Management Authority and other federal departments to extend maximum support to the Punjab government, if required.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the necessary steps should be taken to aware the citizens of any emergency situation, chalk out alternate traffic plans and make arrangements for proper drainage.

He also instructed to take preventive measures in wake of the monsoon rains in other parts of the country, besides asking the NDMA and PDMAs to coordinate for necessary arrangements.

He said all possible steps should be taken to relocate the people from villages to safe locations besides saving their cattle.

Similarly, he said, all necessary measures should be taken to prevent the urban flooding.

The prime minister also directed to mobilise the respective administrations of Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other hilly areas, besides instructing to keep the PM Office updated on all the measures taken.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed grief and sorrow over the death of people due to rains and thunderstorms.

He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved families to bear this loss with equanimity.

He also prayed for early recovery of those injured in the incidents.