LAHORE: Two intense rainfall episodes on Wednesday resulted in the loss of nine lives in Punjab, with the majority of fatalities occurring in Lahore. The Meteorological Department has issued a warning of anticipated showers over the next three days, potentially with increased severity.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the submergence of Lahore Electric Supply Company’s infrastructure during the heavy rainfall resulted in the electrocution of three individuals in Lahore.
Waterlogged areas were formed in several parts of the city, including upscale areas like Gulberg and Defence Housing Authority.
Additionally, three individuals lost their lives in Lahore due to collapsed roofs caused by the heavy downpour and strong winds. Furthermore, one person drowned in Lahore and another in Layyah as low-lying areas of both cities were flooded.
In Kasur, a young individual from Sahjra village near the Pakistan-India border lost their life due to a lightning strike.
Furthermore, six individuals sustained critical injuries in accidents caused by the rain. The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) reported that the rainfall broke a 30 years record, exceeding 200 millimeters at twelve out of its sixteen monitoring points. The rainfall occurred in two spells, starting at around 4 am and lasting until 1 pm, with a 30-minute break.
Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi shared via a tweet, “291 millimeters of rain and seven deaths since morning.”
The Director of the Meteorological Department, Shahid Abbas, anticipates greater challenges for Wasa and other agencies in the next three days.
He anticipated rainfall, potentially less severe than the one on Wednesday morning, on Thursday morning in Punjab. However, the following two days, Friday and Saturday, have the potential to be equally or even more disastrous. The upper parts of the province experienced the main concentration of rainfall on Wednesday.
He further warned that in the next three days, the rainfall could extend to the lower parts of Punjab. He said it could potentially cover the region. Both the Meteorological Department and the Flood Warning authorities have issued alerts, emphasizing the need for preparedness throughout the country.
However, an unnamed official from the Meteorological Department disputed the claim made by Wasa regarding record-breaking rainfall. The official described it as “self-serving,” meaning that it enables the agency to justify allocating additional time and resources.
The official clarified that while the rainfall was intense, resulting in deaths and injuries, it did not break any records. According to the Meteorological Department’s data, the city received 150mm of rain, with the airport area receiving 159mm. While the rainfall was heavy and intense at certain points, it did not exceed 200 millimeters at any point.”
