LAHORE: Heavy rain swept across various parts of Lahore on Saturday, bringing significant rainfall to several areas of the city.
According to data released by the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), the highest rainfall was recorded in Nishtar Town at 48.5 millimetres.
Other areas that received notable rainfall included the airport area with 40 mm, Johar Town with 37.5 mm, Lakshmi Chowk and Mughalpura with 30.5 mm each, Upper Mall with 29 mm, Tajpura with 27 mm, Chowk Nakhuda with 25 mm, Pani Wala Talab with 22 mm, Samanabad with 22.5 mm, Jail Road and Iqbal Town with 20.5 mm and 20 mm respectively, Gulberg Head Office with 20 mm, Farrukhabad with 19 mm, Saggian with 18.5 mm, Gulshan-i-Ravi with 17 mm, Defence Road with 15 mm, and Shadipura with 0.5 mm.
Meanwhile, a wall collapsed onto a rickshaw in Lahore’s Wapda Town during the rain, leaving two people injured. According to Rescue 1122, one of the injured individuals was shifted to Jinnah Hospital for further medical treatment.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast that rain accompanied by windstorms and thunderstorms was likely at isolated locations in Azad Kashmir, northeast and eastern Punjab, as well as the Potohar region. The department also warned that heavy rainfall and hailstorms could occur in some areas during the period.
In response to the weather conditions, Wasa Managing Director Ghufran Ahmed visited several parts of Lahore to oversee rainwater drainage operations and assess the situation in low-lying localities. According to a statement issued by the agency, he inspected Qurtaba Chowk, Kalma Chowk Underpass, Gaddafi Stadium, Liberty Chowk, and Main Boulevard Gulberg.
During the visits, the Wasa chief directed officials to expedite drainage efforts and ensure the swift removal of accumulated rainwater. He instructed staff to utilise all available resources to clear water from low-lying neighbourhoods, major roads, and underpasses to maintain the smooth flow of traffic across the city.
Ghufran Ahmed stated that all disposal stations were operating at full capacity as part of the ongoing drainage operation aimed at preventing urban flooding and minimising inconvenience for residents.
Earlier, on May 13, heavy rain and hailstorms had also struck several areas of the provincial capital, inundating low-lying localities and causing significant traffic disruptions on major roads throughout Lahore.