Heavy rain and hailstorm hit Lahore, flooding low-lying areas

LAHORE: Heavy rain and hailstorms swept across several parts of Lahore on Wednesday, submerging low-lying localities and affecting traffic movement on major roads.

The weather followed a forecast issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department on Sunday, which had predicted rain in upper parts of the country, including Lahore, from May 10 to May 12.

According to Lahore Water and Sanitation Agency data recorded at 6:35pm, Lakshmi Chowk received the highest rainfall in the city at 95 millimetres. Other areas that recorded significant rainfall included Pani Wala Talab with 79mm, Saggian with 53.2mm, Gulshan-e-Ravi with 45.8mm, Jail Road with 44mm, Tajpura with 41.2mm, Chowk Nakhuda with 40.2mm and Samanabad with 37.4mm.

WASA said its head office in Gulberg recorded 34.4mm, while the airport received 33.9mm. Rainfall was also measured at Iqbal Town with 25.6mm, Upper Mall with 26mm, Farrukhabad with 20mm, Shadi Pura with 11.2mm, Johar Town with 8.4mm, Mughalpura with 7mm and Nishter Town with 5.8mm.

The average rainfall across the Lahore region was recorded at 34mm. At the time of reporting, rain had stopped in all areas covered in the official data.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority advised residents to take precautionary steps during the weather spell and urged them to avoid electric poles and wires.

Citizens should avoid unnecessary travel and remain cautious during the ongoing rain spell, a PDMA spokesperson said.

PDMA Director General Omar Javed directed the district administration to ensure prompt drainage of accumulated rainwater from affected localities.

All relevant institutions, including Rescue 1122 and the WASA, will remain deployed in the field, he added.

WASA Managing Director Ghufran Ahmed told the media that emergency teams would stay deployed across the city to clear choked drains and support drainage operations. He also visited different parts of Lahore, including Lakshmi Chowk, to review the drainage work. He was accompanied by WASA Director General Tayyab Fareed and Punjab Housing, Urban Development & Public Health Engineering Minister Bilal Yasin.

Separately, WASA Vice Chairman Chaudhry Shahabaz Ahmed visited the monsoon control room at the agency’s office. He instructed officials to keep all disposal stations fully operational and directed field teams to ensure immediate drainage of rainwater from low-lying areas.

Ahmed said residents should be provided adequate drainage facilities and directed officers and staff to remain present in the field during the monsoon. He also ordered special monitoring of Lakshmi Chowk, Garhi Shahu, Mall Road and other low-lying parts of the city.