Heavy monsoon rains paralyse Lahore, flood roads and underpasses

LAHORE: Torrential monsoon rains inundated large parts of Lahore on Thursday, disrupting daily life, crippling traffic and exposing the city's persistent drainage problems as water accumulated on roads, streets and underpasses across the provincial capital.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Lahore received 343 millimetres of rainfall over the past 48 hours, prompting warnings of possible urban flooding during the ongoing second spell of the monsoon.

Despite emergency drainage operations launched by the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), rainwater remained stagnant at more than 130 locations, with several roads submerged under three to four feet of water, causing severe traffic congestion and leaving commuters stranded.

Among the worst-hit areas were DHA Phases I to V, where waterlogging disrupted traffic on Main Boulevard, Defence Mor, LUMS Road and adjoining routes. The Ghazi and Masjid Chowk underpasses were closed after being inundated, forcing authorities to divert traffic through alternative routes.

Water accumulation was also reported from Harbanspura, Mall Road, Cooper Road, Lakshmi Chowk and Chouburji, where Wasa teams continued pumping operations.

The downpour also flooded homes in several low-lying neighbourhoods, with residents complaining that they were forced to remove rainwater themselves due to delayed official response.

Adding to commuters' woes, multiple sinkholes appeared on major roads, including Canal Road, Johar Town Main Boulevard, Bhekay Wala Mor and Khayaban-i-Firdousi, prompting traffic police to cordon off affected sections and divert vehicles while repair work commenced.

The PDMA said 21 people have lost their lives and 154 others have been injured in rain-related incidents across Punjab since the start of the monsoon season. The fatalities included 15 people killed in building collapses, three due to electrocution, two struck by lightning and one who drowned, while at least 38 houses sustained partial damage.

PDMA Director General Umar Abbas Mela directed district administrations to remain on high alert and urged the public to avoid weak structures, low-lying areas and contact with exposed electrical installations during heavy rainfall.

Wasa Managing Director Ghufran Ahmed said all disposal stations were operating at full capacity, with additional machinery and staff deployed at waterlogging hotspots. He added that 21 monsoon emergency relief camps had been established, while a 24-hour control room was monitoring the situation through more than 200 surveillance cameras, including those installed at major underpasses.

Lahore Deputy Commissioner Capt (retd) Ali Ijaz also inspected drainage operations in several areas and said major roads had been cleared, with work continuing in low-lying localities.

Meanwhile, Chief Traffic Officer Syed Abdul Raheem Sherazi directed officials to secure sinkhole sites, deploy personnel at flooded underpasses and ensure smooth traffic flow through alternate routes.

Despite the official response, residents criticised the recurring waterlogging crisis, arguing that inadequate drainage infrastructure, blocked sewerage lines and delayed rainwater removal continued to cause widespread disruption every monsoon season.