Lahore: A 30 year old record of rains in Lahore broke today by incessant showers on Wednesday when the city received over 290mm of rain within a span of 10 hours, resulting in the death of at least seven people, officials said.
“Three people were electrocuted, two died after roofs collapsed, and a child drowned after rain water accumulated,” Punjab interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi told journalists in Lahore.
🛑 #LAHORE: Urban flooding situation in Lahore after intense rain, up to 200mm accumulation has been measured in different areas since last night, more chances in next 12/24 hrs.#PakWeather #LahoreRain pic.twitter.com/91xnvNwfQw
— PakWeather.com (@Pak_Weather) July 5, 2023
In an update on his official Twitter handle, the interim CM said the rain death toll rose to seven.
The metropolis received 291mm of rain, during which more than a dozen areas recorded more than 200mm of rain, Commissioner Lahore Mohammad Ali Randhawa said, adding this is happening due to climate change and strong monsoon.
After todays rain in lahore #lahore pic.twitter.com/BfU7k0ndzp
— Syed Mansoor Haider (@smansoorhaider) July 5, 2023
The city administration and all officers and staff of Water and Sanitation Authority (Wasa) Lahore are fully mobilised to ensure the drainage of rainwater, he added.
Meanwhile, MD Wasa Ghafran Ahmed said all low-lying areas would be cleared within a few hours after the rain stops.
Update
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) July 5, 2023
291 ML Rain in Lahore since morning
7 Deaths since morning
According to Wasa Monsoon Control Room, the city’s Lakhsmi Chowk area received 291mm of rain, Nishter Town 277mm, Qurtaba Chowk 270mm, Gulshan-e-Ravi 268mm, Pani Wala Talab 268mm, Johar Town 260mm, Tajpura 249mm, and Iqbal Town 232mm.
Heavy rain in #Lahore pic.twitter.com/7y2MSgrOT2
— Ahmed Raza (@AhmadRaza_1982) July 4, 2023
The rain spell, which started earlier in the morning, paralysed the city as all the major roads and connecting streets were waterlogged making commuting impossible. Many vehicles broke down on the roads due to knee-deep water.
Heavy rain 🌧️ in Lahore pic.twitter.com/OhOmJntBsm
— ~WaheedJutt~ (@deojan1) July 5, 2023
Rainwater entered the houses in low-lying areas of Shah Jamal and Tajpura while the electricity supply was cut, making life more miserable.