LAHORE: Ferozewala, Bhera, Lahore, Gujranwala, and Pindi Bhatian faced severe weather-related incidents on Wednesday as the fourth monsoon spell swept across Punjab, claiming seven lives and injuring eight others.
In Ferozewala, tragic flooding resulted in the drowning of four youths after Bheer Nullah overflowed and inundated nearby neighborhoods. The worst-hit area was Pathan Colony. Despite the urgency, no relief efforts from authorities had reached residents by the time of reporting.
In Sargodha, two children lost their lives, and four more were wounded when the roof of a dairy farm collapsed under the weight of rain. Rescuers recovered the bodies of five-month-old Muhammad Ayyan and five-year-old Muhammad Haseeb from the debris and transported them to Bhera’s THQ Hospital. The injured included Kiran, Yousaf, Samina, and Mehmood.
Meanwhile, in Lahore’s Baghbanpura neighborhood, Jahangir, aged 25, sustained injuries when his house’s roof caved in and was rushed to Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital. In Gujranwala, Abdullah, 24, died after contact with a live wire at his residence on Jinnah Road.
In Pindi Bhatian, a house roof collapse injured a woman and her two daughters—Bakhtawar (45), Gurrya (14), and Swera (10). They were taken to hospital for treatment.
Heavy rainfall caused chaos in various parts of Punjab, with roads flooding in Narowal, Shakargarh, and Sarai Alamgir. In Ferozewala, water accumulated up to seven or eight feet in some areas, forcing residents to seek refuge on rooftops due to rising water levels entering their homes.
In Lahore, intermittent heavy rain fell across localities like Lahore High Court, Mughalpura, Shalimar, and Canal Road, bringing a temporary relief to the weather. The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasted maximum temperatures of 33°C and minimums of 27°C, with an 11 km/h breeze and 90% humidity.
The weather outlook for Islamabad indicates continued intermittent rain, raising concerns of flooding in low-lying zones. The maximum temperature is expected to reach 34°C, with a minimum of 26°C.
Water levels in the River Indus at Guddu Barrage surged by 43,162 cusecs within a day, leading to a moderate flood at the site. Reports from the Control Room indicated inflows exceeding 383,000 cusecs, with outflows at 345,000 cusecs, putting pressure on the riverbanks.
A breach in a canal near Bahawalpur has submerged over 50 acres of land, with locals actively attempting to contain the damage. They have demanded accountability for negligence that may have caused the breach.
In Pasrur, Nullah Dek—originating from India—was flowing in medium flood, with 12,500 cusecs of water passing through, prompting authorities to issue an alert.
Forecasts predict continued hot and humid conditions across most of the country, with isolated thunderstorms expected in upper Punjab, parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Kashmir within the next 24 hours.
