Rain lowers temperatures in Lahore

LAHORE: Showers in different parts of Lahore on Tuesday brought down the city’s temperature and prompted emergency drainage operations in low-lying areas after rainwater accumulated on roads and streets.

According to the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), the heaviest rainfall was recorded in Saggian at 40.4mm. It was followed by Paniwala Talab with 39.2mm, Chowk Nakhuda with 37.4mm, Lakshmi Chowk with 35mm and Farrukhabad with 17mm.

WASA said Mughalpura and Samanabad each received 4.6mm of rain, while Gulshan Ravi recorded 4.2mm and Upper Mall 3mm. Tajpura received 2.2mm, and Jail Road and Shadipura one millimetre each. No rainfall was recorded at the Airport, Head Office Gulberg, Nishtar Town, Iqbal Town, Johar Town and Defence Road.

Emergency response activated

After water gathered in several vulnerable localities, WASA put its monsoon emergency plan into operation and started drainage work. WASA Vice Chairman Chaudhry Shehbaz Ahmed visited emergency camps set up at Qurtaba Chowk, Zahoor Elahi Road, Liberty Chowk and Hussain Chowk to inspect preparedness and review the ongoing operation.

During the visit, he instructed field formations to keep drainage work running without interruption. He also told operational teams to stay on alert and directed officials to give priority to clearing water from low-lying neighbourhoods, major roads and other sensitive points.

WASA Managing Director Ghufran Ahmed oversaw the drainage exercise throughout the day.

District administration on alert

Separately, Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Ali Ejaz enforced the district’s rain emergency protocol and ordered the district administration to remain on high alert. He said the administration’s top priority was the prompt removal of rainwater from low-lying areas.

Earlier, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority had forecast additional rain in Lahore and several other districts of the province over the next two days. The authority advised the public to stay away from open spaces during thunderstorms, remain in safe locations during strong winds and contact the PDMA helpline in case of an emergency.