LAHORE: Seven people were killed and 18 were injured due to heavy rain as structures collapsed in various districts of the province during the last 24 hours.

A report of the PDMA, available with Dawn, states that the deaths and injuries were reported from 2pm on Wednesday to 2pm on Thursday.

The report also revealed that 105 people died and 260 were injured due to monsoon rains in the last one month from June 30 to Aug 29. As many as 267 houses were damaged and 89 animals were killed.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority also predicted intermittent strong winds/gusts and thunderstorms with additional rain in most districts of the province on Friday (today).

According to the report on Thursday, the maximum 61mm rain was recorded in Okara, 58mm in Sargodha, 36mm in Kot Addu, 34mm in Sahiwal and 23mm in Toba Tek Singh during the last 24 hours.

On Friday, heavy rainfall is also expected in Murree, Galiyat, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Okara, Pakpattan, Chiniot, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Layyah, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Khanpur, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, and Rahim Yar Khan.

Meanwhile, the provincial capital witnessed continuous light to heavy rainfall across various areas on Thursday. The rain disrupted daily life and severely impacted the electricity distribution system, leaving several localities without power.

According to official reports, the rainfall measured across the city varied significantly, with Jail Road receiving the highest amount of 21mm. Other areas also recorded notable rainfall, including 6mm at the airport, 12mm in Gulberg, 13mm at Lakshmi Chowk, 14mm in Upper Mall and 5mm in Mughalpura. Some areas experienced even heavier downpour, with 32mm of rain recorded in Nishtar Town, 18mm in both Paniwala Talab and Farrukhabad, 15mm in Gulshan-i-Ravi, 17mm in Allama Iqbal Town, 13mm in Samanabad, 7mm in Johar Town and 15mm at Qurtaba Chowk.

The persistent rain not only caused waterlogging in several areas but also led to significant disruptions in the power supply. Over 60 feeders of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) tripped, plunging many neighborhoods into darkness. The ongoing rainfall made restoration of electricity difficult as technical teams struggled to repair the affected feeders.

Residents in the affected areas expressed frustration over the power outages, which compounded their difficulties.

The Met Office has forecast more rain in the coming days and residents are advised to take necessary precautions. The authorities have also warned of urban flooding in low-lying areas if the rain persists.

PDMA Director General (DG) Irfan Ali Kathia said financial assistance would be ensured to the bereaved families. He said there was loss of life and property due to the collapse of dilapidated buildings. He requested the citizens to stay away from old and dilapidated buildings and avoid unnecessary travel in bad weather conditions.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2024