Bureau Report
LAHORE: Life in major cities of Punjab, including Rawalpindi and the provincial capital Lahore, was paralysed due to the heavy rains.
Low-lying areas were submerged and the electricity system also collapsed due to the torrential rains. Pani Wala Talab area had the highest recorded rainfall at 135 mm, while reports show 48 mm at Jail Road, 70 mm at the airport, and 100 mm in Gulberg.
Heavy downpours were also seen on The Mall, Defence, Garhi Shaho, Mughalpura, Chongi Amar Sidghu, Kacha, Ferozpur Road, Nishter Colony and so on. The Met Office predicted the rain would continue intermittently for the next 24 hours. The roof of a private bank caved in on Friday in Lahore’s Chobarji area. The bank roof collapsed during work hours and seven people have been pulled out of the debris, the rescue team reported.
However, the bank staff reported that as many as 15 people were working during the collapse, along with customers being present. An operation was underway to rescue the others from the debris at the time of filing of this report.
Eight people, including six women and one child, were killed in two separate incidents in Chakwal when the roofs of houses collapsed. Rescue teams retrieved the bodies and moved them to hospitals, reports said.
Responding to the current conditions, Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar directed the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and local administration to immediately drain out rainwater from low-lying areas of Lahore.
He further directed the authorities to utilise all measures to ensure immediate drainage of the accumulated rainwater. CM Buzdar added that there is no room for negligence and that the flow of traffic should remain unimpeded.
Multiple cities in Punjab have been affected by flash floods, and the Pakistan Army troops were dispatched to assist the civil administration in relief efforts. Mangla Corps troops were engaged in damage assessment and relief efforts to help affected flood victims in Jabbi, Dhokri, Bhola, Khaliqabad, Waheer, Hadali areas.
