Torrential rain multiplies Lahorites’ woes for second day

F.P. Report

LAHORE: The woes of Lahorites which were not going away after Friday’s record rain were multiplied manifold early Saturday morning when heavy downpour returned to the city in the wee hours.

Saturday’s heavy rain inundated several roads and spelled huge trouble for low-lying areas, with the city giving look of a deluge.

The water level which started to recede on Friday evening flooded back Saturday morning with Gulberg, Walton Road, Dharampura, Ghaziabad and other areas were inundated, increasing problems for motorists and residents.

The rain which continued by forenoon brought the lift to a halt in almost the whole city with traffic plying with snail’s pace and electricity down in most parts of the provincial capital.

The highest rainfall in Lahore on Friday was recorded at Lakshmi Chowk 167mm, which is the highest of the current monsoon season. In the inner city, 116mm of rain was recorded at Paniwala Talab and 55mm at Jail Road.

The heavy rains inundated different localities, including Johar Town, Paniwala Talab, Lakshmi Chowk, McLeod Road, Chaurburji, Islampura, Sandha, Krishannagar Bazar, Icchara, Monzang, Badami Bagh, Abid Market, Nisbat Road, Railway Station, Misri Shah, Wasimpura, Mughalpura, Johar Town and Do Muriah Pul.

The system of Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) also failed, resulting in electricity failure in various parts of the city due to the tripping of dozens of LESCO feeders. Many parts of the city were without power for many hours.

A large number of motorcyclists were found taking refuge under the overheads on the Ferozepur Road and Multan Road, and the underpasses on the Canal Road, and thus hindering the normal flow of traffic, which caused huge traffic chaos.

According to Met Department, rain with wind and thundershower is expected in Islamabad, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, eastern Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.