–Islamabad, Lahore receive heavy rainfall, face power outages and tailbacks
LAHORE: As monsoon rains continue to lash most parts of the country, people are facing immense difficulties in the form of power outages and urban flooding.
In Lahore, people were left without power after 180 Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) feeders tripped in the morning following heavy rainfall.
Heavy downpour pelted parts of the city, and its surrounding areas, causing flooding and tailbacks at major arteries, such as The Mall and Jail Road, during rush hours.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to lash the city till Saturday, according to Pakistan Metrological Department.
“Strong monsoon currents from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are likely to enter in upper parts of the country from Wednesday and likely to spread central and southern parts from Thursday to Saturday,” warned a press release.
Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Sargodha are also expected to be inundated by water collected from the rains. Moreover, high floods are expected in the upstream of Mangla, River Chenab and Indus.
Separately, an alert has been issued by the weather office to concerned authorities, advising them to take precautionary measures.
Upon Chief Minister Usman Buzdar’s direction, Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has established camps at 35 places in the city.
ISLAMABAD:
Water levels in various nullahs of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have been on the rise due to continuous rain in the twin cities.
Water levels have risen by 8.30 feet in Nala Lai. Under the Katariyan Bridge, the water level has risen by up to 7.5ft, while under the Gawalmandi bridge, the level has risen by six feet.
The water level in the PWD Nala has also risen, causing water to flood the basements of various houses along its banks.
The MET department has predicted heavy rainfall to continue today and tomorrow.
The district administration claims to have a solid plan in case of a flood-like situation in the area. Rescue 1122, the army, the cantonment board and other departments have been put on standby.
KARACHI
After sporadic rains on Wednesday night, the MET has announced that Karachi will receive more rains in the next 24 hours. The most rain recorded in Karachi last night was 3mm, in Gulshan-e-Hadeed.
The highest temperature expected in the next 24 hours will be 33 degrees, while the lowest is expected to be 28 degrees. Humidity in the city is expected to rise to 70 per cent.
A weather system from Rajasthan is expected to fully impact the city once it reaches here on July 27. Other parts of Sindh will also be affected by the system.
PESHAWAR
Peshawar has been receiving intermittent rain with heavy winds since Wednesday. The MET department has also predicted heavy rainfalls in various other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially Chitral district.
The PDMA has issued a list of precautions for the district management and other related departments. The emergency staff has also been called for in all relevant departments.
In light of the situation, a statement issued by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan directs concerned government departments to remain on high alert during the monsoon period.
He has also ordered the cancellation of leaves of staff members of concerned departments during rains and directed that both health workers and Rescue 1122 personnel should stay on high alert.
