LAHORE: A six-hour spell of torrential rain hit the Punjab capital adversely, leading to another spate of urban flooding in several parts of the city and causing devastation of the infrastructure.

The downpour overflowed the Lahore Canal at various spots besides causing flooding and appearance of four major sinkholes on Canal Road for the first time.

Gulshan-i-Ravi (204mm) stood second after airport area (205mm) in rainfall. The downpour started at 7:15am or so, which brought the life to a grinding halt with accumulation of water on roads, especially the under-construction Samanabad-Gulshan-i-Ravi underpass about which the government has already announced July 31 final completion date.

“Saturday’s spell was, perhaps, not less than the recent two spells of downpour that wreaked havoc on the city. I never saw canal road submerged by water at various spots before,” says an urban expert.

Six-hour spell brings life to a grinding halt

“The government, instead of focusing on building roads, should revamp the entire wastewater drainage and water supply system to control damage,” the expert, who wished not to be named, said.

The expert wondered over the condition of the Gulberg’s main boulevard after the rain, which according to him, have no drain for the proper ponding of water. According to data made available to Dawn, airport area topped with 205mm rain followed by Gulshan-i-Ravi which received 204mm. Jail Road received 113mm of rain, Gulberg (Wasa head office spot 115mm), Lakshmi Chowk,1(82mm), Upper Mall (128mm), Mughalpura SDO office area (167mm), Tajpura SDO office area (198mm), Nishtar Town Wasa director area (198mm), Chowk Nakhuda (126mm), Pani Wala Talab (177mm), Farrukhabad (177mm), Iqbal Town SDO office area (164mm), Samanabad SDO office (104mm), Johar Town SDO office area (190mm) and Qartaba Chowk received 175mm rain.

“I think de-watering/drainage work at the under-construction Samanabad underpass may take a day or two since two much rainwater is accumulated here. But we will try to do it within the next 12 hours if no rain occurs on Sunday,” an LDA official said while talking to Dawn on Saturday.

He said similarly the ongoing construction work related to sewerage line replacement at a certain stretch of Khayaban-i-Firdausi may delay further. Likewise, the repair/maintenance to plug the sinkholes on Canal Road may take two to three days after start of the work, the official added.

The city localities/roads reported to be facing rainwater accumulation included Gulberg’s main boulevard, Jail Road, Canal Road, The Mall, Johar Town’s main boulevard, Allah Hoo Chowk, Chowk Nakhuda, Paniwala Talab area, Iqbal Town main boulevard, Tajpura, Samanabad, Ferozepur Road, Zahoor Elahi Road, Gulshan-i-Ravi main boulevard, Upper Mall Road, Mughalpura-Shalamar Road, Airport Road and some parts of Multan Road.

“Whenever we have rain, our streets remain flooded for two to three days since no one from Wasa comes to ensure drainage of wastewater. It clearly reflects discrimination against the lower-middle class living here,” deplores a resident of Tajpura.

On the other hand, the rain increased water level in the Ravi, which, according to reports, overflowed at some points, leading to flooding in Nano Dogar village near Juggian Bahulki and Khaneki. It destroyed crops at a vast chunk of land besides damaging the houses. The residents also staged a protest against the government for not making appropriate arrangements to stop flow of water into the village. Chief Minister Moshin Naqvi, provincial ministers and secretaries, Lahore Commissioner and senior officials visited localities in the city to ensure timely drainage of rainwater.

The CM monitored drainage-related activity in Islampura and appreciated Wasa and others. The downpour disrupted water supply in a number of areas.

“During the ponding operation, we always stop operation of tubewells (water supply to the citizens) so as to at least stop further entrance of the domestic sewage/wastewater. It always happens under the SOPs to avoid choking,” a Wasa official said.

Meanwhile, a number of electricity feeders of 11kV tripped which led to suspension of supply to various parts of the city.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2023