- PMD says heaviest rainfall breaks a previous record of 332mm over three hours in July 1980
- Rescue 1122 says a child and man died while seven others injured in three rain-related incidents
LAHORE/KARACHI: Monsoon rains broke a record of at least 44 years in Lahore on Thursday as the city witnessed a maximum rainfall of almost 360 millimetres in three hours in the Airport area, resulting in flooding of low-lying areas.
Due to the heaviest rainfall, the Punjab government declared rain emergency to tackle the situation.
Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Spokesperson Mazhar Hussain said that the record for maximum rainfall in a day during monsoon was broken today.
The city received almost 360mm of rain in three hours, AFP quoted the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) as saying, breaking a previous record of 332mm over three hours in July 1980.
“This was record-breaking rainfall,” the agency’s deputy director Farooq Dar told AFP.
The PDMA has forecast the sixth spell of monsoon rains in Punjab from Thursday (today) to August 6. Most of the districts of south Punjab are likely to face strong winds and thundershowers during the period.
The PDMA spokesperson had noted that water levels in rivers, dams and streams were rising due to the monsoon rains. He had warned of moderate to high-level flooding in the river Jhelum at Mangla from Aug 1 to 4.
On Tuesday, a child and five women were killed and six others were injured due to heavy monsoon rains in various districts of Punjab.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Flood Forecasting Division, Lahore’s airport area recorded 337mm of rain in 24 hours till 8am today. Meanwhile, Lahore’s city area saw 118mm of rainfall.
Senior Punjab minister Marriyum Aurangzeb supervised the drainage operations carried out by various authorities, a statement from the Punjab chief minister’s office said.
It added that the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Lahore West Management Authority and the district administration were collectively working to deal with the monsoon rains.
Aurangzeb said that as per the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the availability of water pumps and other necessary machinery had been ensured.
She further said that hospitals had been provided with medicines and vaccines for poisonous insect bites. “Continuous monitoring is being done,” Marriyum stated.
Rainfall data issued by the Lahore Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) at 11:49am showed that the airport area received the highest amount of rain since the first spell of rain began at 4:45am.
Pani Wala Talab Bazar placed second with 319mm, with Nishter Town Director Office trailing at a close 312mm.
Other 12 areas — including Lakshmi Chowk, Farrukhabad, Johar Town, Iqbal Town and Upper Mall — recorded more than 200mm of rain during the same period.
2 dead, 7 injured in rain-related incidents
Meanwhile, a child and a man died while seven others were injured in three rain-related incidents across Lahore.
According to Rescue 1122 service, a minor girl was found dead while five others wounded were rescued from the rubble after the makeshift roof of a house near Bulleh Shah Interchange collapsed.
Separately, a man aged around 30 years died of electrocution near Nishat Colony, Rescue 1122 said.
In another incident, two men were injured when the wooden roof of their house, located near Shaukat Khanum Chowk, collapsed. While one of them was provided with first aid, the second was taken to Lahore’s Jinnah Hospital for treatment, the rescue service said.
Officials monitor situation as PDMA advises caution
Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman visited the Wasa head office, where he was accompanied by Lahore Commissioner Zaid bin Maqsood and LDA Director General Tahir Farooq.
There, the officials were given a briefing by Wasa Managing Director Ghufran Ahmed on operations to drain rainwater, assuring them that “all systems are functioning at their full capacity”.
The Wasa official asserted that the entire city would be cleared of rainwater within hours of the rain halting. “The rain spell has been ongoing since the morning and Wasa’s drainage operation is continuing without interruption.”
The Punjab chief secretary also visited Lahore’s Services Hospital where he assessed the drainage operations, a statement issued by the Lahore Civil Secretariat said.
He visited various wards of the hospital, including the Emergency Ward, and ordered Wasa to install more pumps to drain the rainwater as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the PDMA advised citizens to take precautionary measures, such as avoiding unnecessary travel, carrying a raincoat and an umbrella, and driving slowly while avoiding making sudden brakes and turns.
It further suggested that people avoid electricity wires and poles, unplug electrical appliances, not live in dilapidated buildings, and not allow children to take baths in accumulated rainwater in low-lying areas.
The authority also urged private and government offices to prioritise work-from-home arrangements.
In a statement issued by Punjab Rescue, Emergency Services Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer reiterated the above advice. He asserted that rescuers across the province were actively working to help those in need.
Statistics measured have shown a staggering 362 mm rainfall at the airport while other areas of the metropolis, including Nishtar Town 227mm, Gulshan-e-Ravi 210mm, Lakhsmi Chowk 191mm, Upper Mall 182mm, Tajpura 180mm, and Mughalpura 173mm rainfall.
A heavy downpour in several areas of the inundated roads and streets in the provincial capital and motorists faced immense difficulties while trying to carry out their routine.
Heavy rain disrupts flight operations at Lahore airport
The heaviest rain in Punjab’s capital also disrupted flight operations partially at Lahore airport.
The planes at the Lahore airport are currently parked in the accumulated rainwater at the airport. However, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) staff is working to clear the runway and adjoining area for take-offs and landings of the aircraft.
Heavy rain lashes parts of Karachi
On other hand, heavy rain lashed various parts of Sindh’s metropolis Karachi on Thursday.
Significant downpours were reported in areas including MT Khan Road, Sultanabad, Hijrat Colony, and Keamari, Shahra-e-Faisal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Scheme 33, Safoora Goth, Hasan Square, Saddar, I.I. Chundrigar Road, M.A. Jinnah Road and other parts also experienced significant rainfall.
Nazimabad, Habib Bank Chowrangi, and the SITE Area also received heavy rain. The weather also impacted Landhi, Korangi Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, and the areas around the Airport. Earlier, Met office forecast torrential monsoon rains in the country from 1 August (today) to 6.
Under the influence of this weather system, rain with wind or thundershower are expected in Kashmir from 31st July (night) to 06th August with occasional gaps.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa districts rainfall is expected from the evening of 01st to 06th August with occasional gaps. Islamabad and Punjab would likely receive rainfall from 1st to 6th August with scattered heavy and isolated very heavy falls with occasional gaps.
South Punjab districts expected to receive rain with heavy falls from 2nd to 6th August with occasional gaps. Baluchistan and Karachi and other districts of Sindh will receive rainfall from the evening/night of 02nd to 06th August with occasional gaps.
