Four Dead, Over 400 Feeders Trip as Deluge Submerges Lahore’s Roads, Hospitals, and Homes
- Two Fatalities in Chitral and Abbottabad: Flash floods in KP trigger relief efforts in areas affected by the recent glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF).
- Met Official Forecasts Above-Normal Rainfall: Two spells expected until August 15.
Lahore was hit by an unprecedented deluge on Thursday, with torrential monsoon rains breaking a 44-year record in just three hours. This extreme weather resulted in six fatalities nationwide and injuries to nearly a dozen others.
The heavy rainfall, which began before 5 a.m. and lasted for approximately three hours, submerged roads, hospitals, and homes throughout Lahore. The city remained paralyzed until mid-afternoon as sanitation staff worked to drain the water. Residents struggled to clear rainwater from their homes, with areas such as Mughalpura, Tajpura, and Garhi Shahu dealing with blocked sewers and stranded vehicles.
Hospitals were not spared, as rainwater flooded emergency departments and wards in Services Hospital, General Hospital, and Mayo Hospital, damaging medical supplies and equipment. Power outages affected 410 feeders of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), with power restoration in some areas delayed until 8 p.m.
The rainfall also caused disruptions at the airport, leading to delays for six flights between Lahore and Karachi.
Casualties in Lahore:
In Lahore, four people died and seven were injured due to rain. A roof collapse near Baba Bulleh Shah Interchange killed a child, while electrocution incidents claimed three lives. Another roof collapse near Shaukat Khanum Chowk injured two individuals, one of whom was treated on the spot and the other hospitalized.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Punjab has reported 45 deaths and 132 injuries from June 30 to August 1 due to rains. During this period, 66 houses were damaged and 39 cattle were killed.
Record Rainfall:
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) reported record-breaking rainfall, with the highest amount reaching 365mm in the airport area. Other areas received substantial rainfall, including Pani Wala Talab (324mm), Nishtar Town (312mm), and several others.
The Punjab government claimed efficient monitoring and rapid water clearance, while WASA reported clearing multiple areas across the city.
Fatalities in KP:
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, flash floods in Upper Chitral and Abbottabad resulted in two deaths. A farmer in Upper Yarkhun was swept away, and a girl in Bilal Town, Abbottabad, was killed by rainwater. In Manshera, flash floods destroyed shops and a mosque, while a bridge construction site was washed away.
Relief efforts are ongoing in Chitral, where over sixty families have been displaced by the recent glacial lake outburst flood. The road between Upper and Lower Chitral remains closed due to erosion.
Weather Forecast:
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warns of possible high flood conditions in the Chenab River if rainfall continues at its current rate. After the August 1-6 rain spell, another period of above-normal rainfall is expected from August 7 to 15. The PMD will issue further advisories.
In July, Pakistan saw 7% less rainfall overall, with significant deficits in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Azad Jammu Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. However, Punjab and Balochistan experienced 12% and 23% more rainfall, respectively.
Lahore recorded 662mm of rain at the airport, surpassing the previous record of 332.5mm set on July 31, 1980.
