Punjab Govt: In Lahore, a record-breaking amount of rainfall fell yesterday. Over seven hours, 360 millimeters were recorded. This rainstorm broke the previous record that had stood for 44 years and caused flooding all over the city which disrupted life on every level. Even hospitals reported getting flooded.
Blackouts and floods
LESCO’s 410 feeders tripped and left many areas without power for extended periods. In low-lying areas, water collected and interfered with daily routines. The Punjab government responded quickly, and within a few hours, most of Lahore returned to normal as the administration cleared the standing water. Nationwide, rain-related incidents claimed 18 lives and caused injuries to others.
Flooding and Blackouts
Overnight, LESCO’s 410 feeders tripped causing prolonged outages across many regions. Water gathering in low-lying areas disturbed daily functioning, but the Punjab Government acted swiftly, clearing most areas within hours and restoring normalcy to Lahore. The nationwide death toll from rain-related incidents reached eighteen with injuries also reported.
Areas Most Affected
The rainfall, starting early morning, lasted for seven hours, recording 360 millimeters across Lahore, breaking a 44-year-old record. Key areas affected included:
- Airport Vicinity: 360 mm
- Nishtar Town: 312 mm
- Water Tank: 324 mm
- Gulberg: 214 mm
- Lakshmi Chowk: 248 mm
- Upper Mall: 218 mm
- Mughalpura: 227 mm
- Tajpura: 260 mm
- Na Khuda Chowk: 262 mm
- Farrukhabad: 298 mm
- Gulshan Ravi: 248 mm
- Iqbal Town: 262 mm
- Samanabad: 250 mm
- Johar Town: 280 mm
- Qurtuba Chowk: 225 mm
Flooding in Homes and Hospitals
The torrential rain turned streets and neighborhoods into rivers, flooding hundreds of homes and causing significant property damage. Various hospitals, including Services, Mayo, Ganga Ram, General, Jinnah, Children’s, Kot Khawaja Saeed, Lady Aitchison, Munshi, Cardiology, and Nawaz Sharif Hospital, reported water ingress, affecting emergency services and operations.
Government Response
The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, directed senior officials to oversee relief operations. Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, alongside Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, monitored the situation closely, ensuring prompt water drainage from affected areas. WASA, LDA, Lahore Waste Management Authority, and district administration teams worked tirelessly to clear water from hospitals and other regions.
Casualties And Accidents
Heavy downpours caused some tragic incidents:
- A young girl was killed by electric shocks from collapsing roofs and walls, and others were injured in Lahore.
- A young woman was carried away by fast-moving waters in Rawalpindi.
- Flooding took the lives of several people including children in different places like Sargodha Leiah Karachi and Lasbela.
Lahore’s recent record-breaking rainfall has exposed urban flooding challenges that require strong infrastructure as well as emergency response systems. Government officials alleviated some effects through prompt action. These actions should remind them to stay vigilant when dealing with disasters that could result in loss of lives or property.
