On Thursday, Lahore experienced torrential rains that shattered a 44-year record, with the Airport area recording a maximum rainfall of 337 millimeters within a single day.
Mazhar Hussain, spokesperson for the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), confirmed to Dawn.com that the record for maximum rainfall in a day during the monsoon season was broken.
The PDMA has forecast the sixth spell of monsoon rains in Punjab to last from Thursday (today) until August 6, predicting strong winds and thundershowers in most districts of south Punjab during this period.
Rising water levels in rivers, dams, and streams have been noted by the PDMA, with warnings of moderate to high-level flooding in the Jhelum River at Mangla from August 1 to 4.
Earlier this week, heavy monsoon rains led to the deaths of a child and five women, and injuries to six others across various districts of Punjab.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Flood Forecasting Division reported that Lahore’s airport area received 337mm of rain in the 24 hours leading up to 8am today, while the city area recorded 118mm.
Senior Punjab minister Marriyum Aurangzeb oversaw drainage operations conducted by various authorities, as stated by the Punjab chief minister’s office. The coordinated efforts involved the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Lahore Waste Management Company, and the district administration.
Aurangzeb emphasized that, under the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, water pumps and other necessary machinery were readily available. Hospitals have also been supplied with medicines and vaccines for poisonous insect bites. “Continuous monitoring is being done,” Aurangzeb stated.
Rainfall data from Wasa at 11:49am showed the airport area received the highest amount of rain since the first spell began at 4:45am. Pani Wala Talab Bazar ranked second with 319mm, followed by Nishter Town Director Office with 312mm. Other areas, including Lakshmi Chowk, Farrukhabad, Johar Town, Iqbal Town, and Upper Mall, recorded over 200mm of rain.
Casualties and Injuries in Rain-Related Incidents
A child and a man died, and seven others were injured in three rain-related incidents across Lahore.
According to Rescue 1122, a minor girl was found dead and five others were injured when the makeshift roof of a house near Bulleh Shah Interchange collapsed. Separately, a man around 30 years old died of electrocution near Nishat Colony. In another incident, two men were injured when the wooden roof of their house near Shaukat Khanum Chowk collapsed. One received first aid, while the other was taken to Lahore’s Jinnah Hospital for treatment.
Officials Monitor Situation and Advise Caution
Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, accompanied by Lahore Commissioner Zaid bin Maqsood and LDA Director General Tahir Farooq, visited the Wasa head office. Wasa Managing Director Ghufran Ahmed briefed them on the ongoing operations to drain rainwater, assuring them that “all systems are functioning at their full capacity.” Ahmed asserted that the entire city would be cleared of rainwater within hours of the rain halting.
Zaman also visited Lahore’s Services Hospital to assess drainage operations and ordered Wasa to install more pumps to expedite the process.
Wasa Vice-Chairman Chaudhry Shahbaz Ahmad visited various city areas to evaluate the rain situation. He inspected multiple monsoon emergency camps and directed that all roads be cleared of rainwater immediately. He also emphasized the need for machinery to evacuate water from low-lying areas and ensured additional machinery was on standby if needed. Ahmad further directed that all disposal stations operate at full capacity and that staff be ready to respond to emergencies.
The PDMA advised citizens to take precautionary measures, such as avoiding unnecessary travel, carrying a raincoat and umbrella, driving slowly, and avoiding sudden brakes and turns. It also suggested avoiding electricity wires and poles, unplugging electrical appliances, avoiding living in dilapidated buildings, and not allowing children to play in accumulated rainwater in low-lying areas. The authority also urged private and government offices to prioritize work-from-home arrangements.
Punjab Rescue and Emergency Services Secretary Dr. Rizwan Naseer reiterated these safety measures and affirmed that rescuers across the province were actively working to assist those in need.