LAHORE:
The sixth spell of the ongoing monsoon season brought an hour of torrential rain to Lahore on Saturday, flooding streets and disrupting the city’s power supply.
The downpour affected more than 120 feeders of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), leaving several neighbourhoods without electricity for hours. According to LESCO, the outages were caused by feeder tripping and other technical faults.
Affected areas included the Township, Green Town, Samanabad, Gulshan Ravi, Qila Gujjar Singh, Shahdara, Imamia Colony, Shalimar, Baghbanpura, Harbanspura, Garhi Shahu, Mughalpura, and Bhati Gate, as well as several parts of the Walled City.
Complaints of transformer damage also increased, leading to prolonged outages in some neighbourhoods.
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) reported that 65 millimetres of rain was recorded at Pani Wala Talab between 1:35pm and 2:35pm, inundating low-lying areas. Gulberg and Lakshmi Chowk received 58mm, Nishtar Town and Chowk Nakhuda 57mm, Farrukhabad 70mm, Gulshan Ravi 19 mm, Iqbal Town 39mm, Samanabad 37mm, Johar Town 34mm, and Qurtaba Chowk 23mm.
The heaviest rainfall during the day was recorded at Pani Wala Talab at 77mm, followed by Lakshmi Chowk at 74mm. Upper Mall received 7mm of rainfall.
Rainwater accumulated on major thoroughfares, including Mall Road, Jail Road, Canal Road, and at intersections such as Lakshmi Chowk, Davis Road, Empress Road, and Haji Camp.
Model Town, Kot Lakhpat, Peco Road, Township, Green Town, Factory Area, Muslim Town, and Garden Town also experienced waterlogging.
The downpour forced the postponement of the Independence Day Family Fun Race scheduled for the evening at Nishtar Park Sports Complex. Organisers cited water accumulation at the venue as the reason.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department announced that a seasonal low persists over northern Balochistan, with moist currents from the Arabian Sea reaching the upper parts of the country. A fresh westerly trough is also affecting the northern areas.
Hot and humid conditions are expected to continue across most of the country on Sunday, with rain, wind, and thundershowers likely in northeastern Punjab, Potohar region, Islamabad, upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and nearby hilly areas.
Over the past 24 hours, hot and humid weather prevailed in most regions, with isolated rainfall reported in parts of Punjab.
Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza inspected drainage operations at Chowburji and reviewed WASA’s response to monsoon rains.
He directed WASA teams to expedite water removal from low-lying areas while ensuring minimal disruption for residents.
He instructed all departments to remain on high alert and maintain close coordination to prevent water accumulation, particularly at vulnerable locations.
Public advisories were also issued, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain, stay clear of electric poles and hanging wires, and drive cautiously in waterlogged streets.
The DC said timely interventions and a comprehensive strategy to permanently address water accumulation were helping the administration maintain smoother traffic flow and safer public spaces during the ongoing monsoon season.
The deputy commissioner also inspected anti-dengue operations in Raiwind, praising the health department for reducing larvae through consistent fieldwork. He ordered spraying in affected homes and nearby houses, with strict daily monitoring of high-risk sites.
The DC warned against negligence, stressing the administration’s commitment to providing a dengue-free environment in Lahore.
With additional input from APP
