Record-breaking showers in Lahore kills seven

LAHORE: At least seven individuals were killed in Lahore on Wednesday due to urban flooding caused by record-breaking showers.

Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi told Hum News that the casualties resulted from electrocution, roof collapses and drowning.

He said that the provincial capital experienced 291 millimeters of incessant showers in a single day, breaking a 30-year-old record.

https://twitter.com/MohsinnaqviC42/status/1676551750667436032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1676551750667436032%7Ctwgr%5Eb27fcfe5f96dfe0daabf0317b1c43225edb0d78f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geo.tv%2Flatest%2F497279-daily-life-disrupted-as-over-250mm-rain-sinks-lahore

CM Naqvi told the media that rescue teams had been dispatched to various areas of the city to clear main roads and drain water from the inundated areas.

He said that Muslim Town, Garden Town and Gulberg were severely affected by the overflow from the Lahore Canal, leading to flooding in the nearby areas.

Naqvi stated, “Another spell of monsoon rain is expected to strike the city in the night; we are preparing our teams for that.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Punjab chief minister to mobilise relief teams swiftly.

He urged to take all possible measures to safeguard the life and property of the citizens. Sharif has also instructed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to  assist the provincial government.

The Water and Sanitation Agency Lahore released the latest rainfall figures for Lahore stating that the provincial capital witnessed over 200 millimeters of rainfall during the last 10 hours.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a forecast stating that heavy rainfall was expected to continue for the next 24 hours.

“Thundershower is expected in Kashmir, Murree, Galiyat, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, T T Singh, Bahawalnagar, Narowal, Sialkot, Sahiwal, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Lahore, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan districts”, the PMD said.

The NDMA on Monday issued directives to all relevant departments to remain on high alert owing to the heavy rainfall forecast till July 8.

NDMA spokesperson Muhammad Idrees said that heavy showers accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms were expected in various parts of the country.

The spokesperson asked the institutions concerned to ensure the availability of emergency machinery and staff given the high risk of urban flooding and flash floods in various parts of the country.