
Heavy rain disrupts power supply
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

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Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
Heavy rain disrupts power supply
Despite court orders, Lesco has continued the construction of the grid inside the housing scheme. PHOTO: EXPRESS 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


Express Tribune
28-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Monsoon rains set to intensify
The fifth spell of monsoon rains of the ongoing season is set to begin across Punjab and continue through July 31, prompting alerts and emergency preparations across the province, officials said. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), heavy rainfall is expected in various districts of northern, central, and South Punjab, including Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Jhelum, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Narowal, Sialkot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sargodha, Mianwali, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar. The PDMA has warned of potential urban flooding in low-lying areas due to drainage overload. "The monsoon system may cause flooding in Punjab's rivers and streams," said PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia. He added that water levels in the Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej, and Jhelum rivers could rise significantly during this period. The Indus River is already experiencing a medium-level flood at Taunsa Barrage, where water flow has reached 410,000 cusecs. Low-level floods are also being reported at Tarbela, Kalabagh, and Chashma. The Punjab chief minister has ordered all district administrations to remain on high alert. Deputy commissioners have been directed to stay in the field and enforce Section 144 to restrict risky public movement around rivers and drains. Police have been instructed to increase patrolling near water bodies. Municipal bodies, WASA, and Rescue 1122 have been placed on standby, with orders to ensure immediate drainage from low-lying areas, deploy staff and equipment at chokepoints, and keep pumping stations and generators operational. Private housing societies have been warned to eliminate water ponding or face legal action. The chief minister emphasised that these societies are solely responsible for managing their own drainage. The PDMA also released a monsoon fact sheet, detailing rainfall statistics, river and reservoir water levels, and overall flood risk. The statement confirmed that light rain was recorded in Sialkot over the past 24 hours, and predicted more rain in most districts in the coming days. No casualties were reported from the latest rainfall, but the monsoon season has already claimed 152 lives in Punjab this year.


Express Tribune
17-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Monsoon deluge cripples Pindi
A laborer carries sacks of onions while wading through a flooded street after heavy monsoon rains in Lahore on July 16, 2025. Photo: AFP A devastating spell of torrential rain on Wednesday night and throughout Thursday left the entire city of Rawalpindi submerged. Streets, markets, and neighbourhoods turned into virtual lakes, presenting scenes reminiscent of Venice. A prolonged 19-hour power outage further crippled the city, rendering the water supply system inoperative. Traffic ground to a halt across all major roads and commercial centres. The Rs140 million allocated for the cleaning of Nullah Leh and 15 stormwater drains was effectively swept away by the floods. The district administration and Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) were rendered entirely ineffective and powerless, prompting the deployment of Pakistan Army. With the city inundated and drainage systems completely overwhelmed, the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner declared an emergency public holiday at 11am on Thursday, resulting in the closure of all government offices. A flood emergency was enforced immediately, and all leaves for relevant officials were suspended. Due to excessive flooding, all underpassesboth new and oldhad to be shut down. Major roads including Mall Road, Murree Road, Rawal Road, and Raja Bazaar were completely submerged, paralysing commercial activity. In low-lying areas, streets and underpasses remained under three to five feet of water for nearly 15 hours. The city's administrative bodiesincluding WASA, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB), and the District Councilcompletely failed to drain the accumulated water. Floodwaters entered homes, shops, and business premises, causing property damage estimated in the millions. Vehicles parked in garages, lawns, and streets were submerged under up to two feet of water, leaving hundreds of cars inoperable due to engine failure. Senior officialsincluding the Commissioner, Deputy and Assistant Commissioners, federal and provincial ministers, parliamentary secretaries, and officers from WASA and the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC)avoided visiting flood-affected areas, reportedly out of fear of public backlash. As has become routine, officials were seen posing for photographs and selfies on the Gawalmandi Bridge while gesturing toward the floodingbefore quickly departing. Ironically, these same officials had recently claimed that Rs140m had been used to clean Nullah Leh and other storm drains. Yet, in the wake of the city's submersion, they avoided media inquiries throughout the day. Two dead, several rescued Meanwhile, two people were killed and two others injured as torrential rains triggered flash floods, caused roof collapses, and led to multiple drowning incidents. Rescue operations are ongoing to locate a child and another person who were swept away in rainwater drains. One body has been recovered so far. Heavy rainfall on Thursday caused severe flooding in Nullah Leh, other seasonal streams, and the River Soan, leading to flood-like conditions in several areas.