LAHORE: Intermittent rainfall continued across Punjab on Wednesday causing urban flash flooding in several cities.

In lightning strikes and roof collapses, one person died and five others were injured. Additionally, 45 cattle were reported dead in these weather-related roof collapse incidents over the past 24 hours.

In response to the ongoing situation, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued an alert, warning of continued rainfall across various districts, including Lahore.

The PDMA has recorded significant rainfall in several areas, with Khanewal receiving 48mm, Chakwal 45mm, Bahawalpur 30mm, Kot Addu 42mm, Sahiwal 33mm, and Bahawalnagar 44mm. Other districts, such as Rawalpindi, Multan, Jhelum, Attock, Kasur, Bhakkar, Gujrat, Toba Tek Singh, Sargodha and Hafizabad also experienced heavy rain.

The PDMA also forecast heavy rains in most districts of Punjab in the next 24 hours and this spell of monsoon rains is predicted to continue till Aug 31.

The PDMA says that there is a fear of urban and flash flooding in big cities due to heavy rains and the flow of water in all the rivers and canals of Punjab is at a normal level.

There is a low-level flood in the river Indus at Tarbela. Till Aug 31, there is a fear of flood hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

Citizens should be careful and stay away from power poles, hanging wires and dilapidated buildings.

The PDMA also suggested taking special care of children and never letting them go near water that collects in low-lying areas.

In Multan, heavy rainfall resumed on Wednesday morning, prompting the district administration to intensify its emergency response efforts.

The metro bus service was temporarily suspended from BCG Chowk to BZU Station due to a burst Wasa sewerage line, which exacerbated the situation. The service will be restored once the line is stabilized and necessary repairs are completed.

Multan Development Authority Director General Rana Saleem Ahmed directed staff to mitigate the impact of the torrential downpour.

The city has faced significant challenges over the last two days due to record-breaking rainfall. Standby generators have been activated at disposal stations to counter the effects of power outages, ensuring the continuous operation of essential services.

Multan Deputy Commissioner Waseem Hamid Sandhu monitored the situation and visited various parts of the city late into the night and early in the morning.

He directed field teams to work tirelessly to clear the city and ordered the operation of all disposal stations at full capacity.

However, the intermittent nature of the rainfall has complicated the drainage process, leaving many low-lying areas submerged.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2024