Heavy monsoon rain inundates Lahore, disrupts traffic and daily life

LAHORE: Heavy monsoon rain left large parts of Lahore waterlogged on Thursday, disrupting routine life, slowing traffic and creating problems for commuters as standing water persisted on major roads, intersections and underpasses across the city.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Lahore received 343 millimetres of rain over the past 48 hours. The authority warned of possible urban flooding during the second spell of monsoon rains. More than 130 locations in the city reported water accumulation, affecting traffic flow in a number of areas.

Residents faced difficulties despite claims by the district administration and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Lahore that drainage work was under way on an emergency basis. In several localities, streets, roads and underpasses remained submerged under three to four feet of water, while slow-moving traffic added to commuting troubles.

Worst-hit areas and traffic diversions

Among the badly affected areas were low-lying neighbourhoods, major roads and underpasses. In DHA Phases 1 to 5, waterlogging disrupted movement at several points. Around two feet of water collected from Defence Mor to A Block Checkpost, slowing vehicles. The Ghazi Underpass and Masjid Chowk Underpass were shut because of heavy accumulation of water, and traffic was diverted to alternate routes.

Traffic was also affected on the route from Lalak Jan Chowk to LUMS Road, from Watain Chowk to LUMS, on Main Boulevard DHA and from Masjid Chowk to Ghazi Chowk. Vehicles were redirected through Z Block and other alternative roads due to the closure of underpasses.

Other areas where water gathered included Harbanspura, Mall Road, Cooper Road, Lakshmi Chowk and Chouburji Chowk, where WASA teams were engaged in drainage operations.

Houses flooded, sinkholes emerge

The rain once again highlighted Lahore’s recurring drainage problems, as water entered homes in low-lying parts of the city and commuters complained of difficulty passing through flooded roads and underpasses. Many residents said authorities had not taken steps to remove water from their homes, leaving them to clear it from their houses and streets themselves.

Commuters also faced delays after vehicles got stuck in standing water. Motorists moved cautiously through flooded stretches, while some avoided major roads because of the risk of breakdowns.

Several deep sinkholes, each measuring about 10 square feet, appeared on three to four roads in the city, including Canal Road, Johar Town Main Boulevard and Bhekay Wala Mor, leading to partial collapse of road sections. Lahore traffic police sealed off the affected spots and diverted vehicles after WASA teams reached the sites. Another sinkhole reopened on Khayaban-i-Firdousi, where barriers were placed as a precaution and traffic was shifted to other routes.

Official response and casualty figures

The PDMA said 21 people had died and 154 had been injured in rain-related incidents across Punjab during the ongoing monsoon season so far. Of the deaths, 15 were caused by building collapses, two by lightning strikes, three by electrocution and one person drowned. The authority also said at least 38 houses had suffered partial damage.

PDMA Director General Umar Abbas Mela instructed district administrations to stay on high alert and warned of the risk of urban and flash flooding. He advised people to avoid weak structures and low-lying areas and to keep away from electricity poles and wires during rainfall.

WASA Lahore said its teams had been placed on high alert and emergency drainage work had been launched. WASA Managing Director Ghufran Ahmed visited Mall Road, Cooper Road, Lakshmi Chowk and Chouburji Chowk to oversee the water removal operation. He said all disposal stations were functioning at full capacity and that extra machinery and staff had been deployed at waterlogged points. He also said more than 21 monsoon emergency relief camps had been made operational and that WASA’s round-the-clock monsoon control room was monitoring the situation through more than 200 live cameras, including cameras installed at underpasses.

Lahore Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Ali Ijaz also visited Harbanspura and other areas to review drainage activity. He said most major roads and waterlogged points had been cleared in record time and that the remaining low-lying areas would be drained soon.

The administration and WASA urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain, stay away from electricity infrastructure, avoid driving through flooded areas and report water accumulation to WASA through its helpline, 1334. Meanwhile, Chief Traffic Officer Syed Abdul Raheem Sherazi directed officials to cordon off sinkholes on various roads and arrange alternate routes for the public, while deploying traffic personnel outside underpasses to redirect vehicles.

He said "Rain duty with commitment, professionalism and public safety is their top priority".

Residents, however, criticised the repeated problem of waterlogging in Lahore, saying that despite monsoon preparations every year, weak drainage capacity, blocked sewer lines and delays in water removal continue to create hardship for citizens.