he torrential rain of August 1, which inundated the entire Lahore in a matter of a few hours, not only disrupted life in the city but also exposed the working of the city district administration, the Lahore Development Authority, the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore, the Water and Sanitation Agency, the Cantonment Board, the Traffic Engineering & Transport Planning Agency and the Lahore Traffic Police.

Healthcare was impacted greatly, as rainwater entered the Emergency Department and other wards of Services, General and Mayo Hospitals, destroying medicines and medical equipment. The parking lot of the General Hospital was also reported deluged.

The city roads and streets were completely submerged. The vehicles had a tough time wading through. Besides, power was interrupted variously. The situation worsened as 410 feeders of the Lahore Electric Supply Company tripped after the downpour. The Company was unable to restore electricity in a number of areas long after, leaving the consumers grumbling.

Air travel was also affected. At least six flights between Lahore and Karachi were delayed and the Civil Aviation Authority remained busy clearing the runways and surrounding areas.

Worse still, rain-related accidents took the lives of at least three people.

According to the Meteorological Department, the city received almost 360mm of rain over about three hours, the most since 332mm in July 1980.

The sanitation staff tried hard to drain the water as soon as the downpour subsided. However, the city remained paralysed for the entire day, with residents struggling in many areas to remove rainwater from their homes. In Shahdara, Mughalpura, Tajpura, Garhi Shahu, Township, DHA Phase 2 and several parts of Cantonment, the residents were seen trying to unclog the sewers blocked as a consequence of the rain spell.

In Shahdara, Mughalpura, Tajpura, Garhi Shahu, Township, DHA Phase 2 and several parts of Cantonment, people were seen trying to unclog the sewers blocked as a consequence of the rain spell.

Many complaints about drainage were filed with the WASA, but no action was taken, and no inquiries were held. Moreover, no steps were taken to clean the storm drains. This led to serious complications.

The authorities cited shortage of machinery, equipment and human resource as reasons for the delay in resolving the issue.

In areas like Johar Town, Allama Iqbal Town and Gulberg, the citizens complained of foul smell emanating from the pools of stagnant waters in their vicinity. Water had accumulated in low-lying areas and public parks.

It is pertinent to note that health experts have issued warnings about the potential spread of dengue fever in Lahore and other parts of the Punjab during monsoon.

It is unfortunate that a good few days since the showers, the city government and the WASA haven’t come forward with a comprehensive plan to tackle the issue of an effective drainage of stagnant rainwater in several parts of the city; and to deal with the impending threat of dengue fever and malaria.

The writer is a print and broadcast journalist