Downpour smashes 44-year record in Lahore

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: At least 24 people were killed and 17 others injured in various rain-related incidents during the last three days in different parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, according to Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Thursday.

Separately, Lahore received 360 millimetres of rain on Thursday, breaking a 44-year-old record, and claiming four lives in different incidents. A spokesman said the PDMA, along with the district administrations and rescue teams, was working hard for rescue and relief activities in the affected areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The News reported on Wednesday deaths of at least 18 people, while houses, bridges and roads were washed away in different parts of the province. The monsoonal spell had caused heavy downpours since July 29 in different areas of the province, the province’s PDMA said in a report issued here. It said 73 houses were completely destroyed while 77 others were partially damaged due to rains in Kohat, Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Hazara and Malakand divisions.

On Thursday, Lahore received 360mm rain, breaking a 44-year-old record, set on July 31, 1980, when the city had received 332.5mm rain. The downpour started early in the morning and continued for at least eight hours, turning almost all city roads and streets into ponds. Rainwater entered Services Hospital and hundreds of houses in the city, creating severe problems for people. Four people, including a two-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy, died while seven people were injured in rain-related incidents in the City.

The first incident was reported in Defence Phase-VII Lahore where a 41-year-old man accidentally touched an electric wire. He received an electric shock and died. The victim was identified as Ghulam Mustafa.

The other causality was reported in Nishat Colony where a 30-year-old unidentified man died of electrocution. The victim accidentally touched an electric pole in Chungi Amar Sadhu, Niazi Chowk.

In the third incident, a 14-year-old boy, who was selling snacks in Gajjumatta, drowned to death in a rainwater pond. The victim Abdullah Altaf slipped into the rainwater accidently.

A minor girl died and five persons were injured in an incident of roof collapse near Baba Bulleh Shah Interchange. The minor could not sustain injuries and died. The injured were shifted to hospital by Rescue 1122. The roof was made of TR guarders.

In another incident of roof collapse near Shaukat Khanum Chowk, two people were injured. The roof was made of wooden sticks.

DG Rescue 1122 Rizwan Naseer said that the rescue teams remained on alert. He requested people to take precautionary measures, and avoid touching poles.

IGP Dr Usman Anwar directed the police to actively participate in relief activities in the monsoon rains.

Moderate-to-heavy rains were also received in various cities and regions of Punjab on Thursday. According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) report, Gujranwala received 123mm rain in last 24 hours, Narowal received 70mm, Kasur 62mm, Hafizabad 23mm, while Sialkot recorded 11mm rain.

The PMD sais water flow in all rivers and barrages of Punjab was recorded at normal level. The water level in Mangala Dam was recorded 60pc and Tarbela 77pc. The water level in Indian dams on Sutlej, Beas and Ravi was recorded 39pc.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab Director General (DG) Irfan Ali Kathia said that arrangements had been completed in view of flood risk in vulnerable districts. From August 1 to August 4, there was a risk of flooding in the Indus River, the mountain ranges and the Chenab River.

The PDMA Control Room and District Emergency Operation Centres were monitoring the situation 24/7.

PMD Director General (DG) Islamabad Mahr Sahibzad Khan said on Thursday the department had predicted heavy rains two days earlier in their weather alert. He said that under the influence of the ongoing heavy monsoon system, urban flooding is feared in the plains of Punjab and lower Sindh until August 6. Also, flash flooding is feared in the hilly areas of Balochistan, Kashmir, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, he added.

“Although Pakistan has received 7 per cent less rain during the month of July, we are expecting near-normal or slightly above-normal rain during the month of August 2024,” he said adding that another monsoon system would affect Pakistan from August 7 to 15, bringing rains to the upper parts of the country, eastern Balochistan and southeast Sindh with occasional gaps.

He said according to their prediction, rain-wind/thundershowers with scattered heavy falls are expected in Kashmir (Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur) until August 6 with occasional gaps.

In Punjab and Islamabad, rain-wind/thundershowers with scattered heavy and isolated very heavy falls are expected in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Okara, Pakpattan, Kasur, Khushab, Sargodha, Bhakkar and Mianwali until August 6 with occasional gaps.

“Rain-wind/thundershowers with heavy falls are also expected in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Khanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Layyah from August 2 to 6 with occasional gaps,” he added.

The DG said that in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, rain-wind/thundershowers with scattered heavy and isolated very heavy falls are expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Swabi, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Hangu, Kurram, Orakzai, Waziristan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Dera Ismail Khan until August 6 with occasional gaps.

In Balochistan, rain-wind/thundershowers with a few heavy falls are expected in Khuzdar, Lasbella, Awaran, Panjgur, Ketch, Kalat, Quetta, Ziarat, Zhob, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Barkhan, Musa Khel, Mastung, Sibbi, Shirani, Kohlu, Bolan, Harnai, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, and Makran coast from the evening/night of August 2 to August 6 with occasional gaps.

As far as Sindh is concerned, rain-wind/thundershowers with scattered heavy and isolated very heavy falls are expected in Mithi, Sanghar, Mitayari, Naushero Feroz, Jamshoro, Umarkot, Tharparkar, Mirpur Khas, Khairpur, Thatta, Badin, Chhor, Padidan, Sajawal, Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, and Dadu from the night of August 2 to August 6 with occasional gaps.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, mainly partly cloudy to cloudy weather conditions are expected. However, rainfall activity is also expected in Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Skardu, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar) from the evening/night of August 3 to August 6 with occasional gaps.

The PMD DG warned that torrential rains may generate flash flooding in local nullahs/ streams of Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Bannu, Kurram, Waziristan, Dera Ismail Khan, Orakzai, Khyber, Mohmand, Nowshera, Swabi, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Northeast Punjab, hill torrents of DG Khan, and Kashmir from August 2 to 5.

A similar situation could occur in Kalat, Khuzdar, Barkhan, Lasbella, Zhob, Loralai, Sibbi, Harnai, Awaran, Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Jhal Magsi, Naseerabad, Musa Khel, and Jaffarabad from August 3 to 5, he said, adding that heavy downpour may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Sahiwal, Nowshera, and Peshawar from August 2 to 5 and in low-lying areas of Sindh on August 4 and 5.

He said landslides may cause road closures in the vulnerable hilly areas of KP, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan during the wet period. Heavy downpour/windstorms and lightning may affect daily routines, weak structures like roof/wall collapse of Kacha houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels, etc., during this period.

“Farmers are advised to manage their activities keeping in view the weather forecast. Travelers and tourists are advised to remain extra cautious, manage their travel according to weather conditions, and avoid any untoward situations during the wet spell,” he added.