In a remarkable turn of events on Wednesday, Lahore City witnessed an incessant downpour that shattered a three-decade-old record, with an astounding accumulation of over 290mm rainfall within a mere 10 hours. Regrettably, the severe rain resulted in the tragic loss of at least seven lives, as confirmed by Punjab interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi. He revealed that three individuals were fatally electrocuted, two lost their lives due to collapsed roofs, and a child tragically drowned in the accumulated rainwater.
Commissioner Lahore Mohammad Ali Randhawa reported that the city received a staggering 291mm of rainfall, with more than a dozen areas recording rainfall exceeding 200mm. Commissioner Randhawa attributed these extreme weather conditions to the effects of climate change and the powerful monsoon season.
The city administration, in collaboration with the Water and Sanitation Authority (Wasa) Lahore, is diligently working to ensure efficient drainage of rainwater. MD Wasa, Ghafran Ahmed, reassured the public that low-lying areas would be cleared within a few hours once the rain subsides.
According to data provided by the Wasa Monsoon Control Room, prominent areas such as Lakhsmi Chowk experienced a deluge of 291mm rainfall, followed by Nishter Town with 277mm, Qurtaba Chowk with 270mm, Gulshan-e-Ravi with 268mm, Pani Wala Talab with 268mm, Johar Town with 260mm, Tajpura with 249mm, and Iqbal Town with 232mm.