In an unprecedented event, Lahore has been battered by the ultimate deluge, shattering a rainfall record untouched for 44 years. The city, reeling from a staggering 337 millimeters of rainfall at Lahore Airport, faces widespread chaos as water infiltrates homes, swamps roads and highways, and inundates even hospital emergency wards, complicating patient care.
Areas like Tajpura (315 mm), Nishtar Town (250 mm), and Johar Town (220 mm) report staggering rainfall figures, exacerbating the crisis. Over 400 electrical feeders have tripped, plunging swathes of the city into darkness as Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) awaits weather respite to commence restoration efforts.
Beyond Lahore, other Punjab cities such as Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Rawalpindi grapple with similar woes, compounded by a relentless monsoon season predicted to persist until August 6.
Amidst the calamity, tragic incidents highlight the human toll: in Rawalpindi, a young girl perished in a rain-filled drain while riding a scooter, prompting urgent rescue operations. Meanwhile, in Sargodha, cousins Adnan and Qamar, aged 12 and 10, tragically lost their lives to swift waters near Faisalabad Road, underscoring the perilous conditions faced by residents.
As Lahore navigates its worst rainfall crisis in decades, the resilience of its people is tested amidst ongoing rescue efforts and forecasts of further rain across Pakistan.
