- Four die of electrocution, two of roof collapse as rain breaks decades-old record
- Urban flooding, power outages irk citizens
- Shehbaz, Askari indulge in a blame game as streets remain swamped
LAHORE: The provincial capital, Lahore, once again submerged on Tuesday after a torrential Monsoon spell that lashed the city all night long, resulting in the death of at least six people due to electrocution and roof collapses.
As a result of 16-hour-long rain spell, most areas of the city turned into canals, with people stranded in their houses and water seeping through vehicles and houses, especially in the low-lying areas. The Water and Sanitation Authority has also imposed an emergency in the city following the rain-related incidents.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), parts of Punjab, especially Lahore, will continue to experience the downpour. In addition to that, the authority has also sent out a monsoon alert, warning that more rainfall is expected in the next 48 to 72 hours. As a result of the heavy showers, there may be flooding in the River Ravi and areas connected to it, the authority warned, adding that there may be some urban flooding in Rawalpindi as well.
As rains wreak havoc in Lahore, mostly due to incompetence of the civic authorities, a large sinkhole has also appeared on the Mall Road near GPO Chowk. It has filled with rainwater and it is feared that the water may affect the underground Orange Line Metro station nearby.
According to Rescue 1122, relief activities are underway and they were also using boats for the purpose. Out of six, at least four people, including two policemen, died of electrocution, while two died in a roof collapse.
“Two people were killed as a warehouse roof collapsed in Gumti Bazaar, whereas another person died of electrocution in China Scheme area of Gujar Pura. It was further reported that three others were injured as the roof of their house collapsed in the same area,” said reports.
Additionally, power outages also irked as some areas of the city experiences power outages for upto several hours after over 215 LESCO feeders tripped.
Rain also caused disruption in flight operations at Allama Iqbal International Airport. Four international flights scheduled to land at the airport were delayed while a flight from Dammam was diverted to Multan.
Following the accumulation of rain water in most parts of the city, most people took to Twitter to bash former government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), saying that the rain has exposed the tall claims of ex-chief minister Shehbaz Sharif. However, Shehbaz was quick to respond and in statement in the late evening he held the current interim setup responsible for the poor management.
Speaking to a local media outlet, the ex-CM said the interim government made no arrangements ahead of monsoon rains. “It has been one month since the caretaker government took over, but no attention has been paid to the province,” Shehbaz said, adding that the drains need to be cleared a month before the start of monsoon season, but they were not cleaned.
In a veiled jibe at the incumbent setup led by CM Hasan Askari, he said a “few individuals realised 16 hours after the rain that they should go out and look around the city”. “The entire responsibility for the situation arising from the downpour is on the caretaker government,” he claimed.
Shehbaz Sharif earlier tweeted that he would be cancelling his meeting with the workers’ convention in Kasur due to “incessant rain” and that that he hopes “that the caretaker administration is taking care of you in such torrential rains.”
Have had to cancel today’s Workers’ Convention in Kasur due to incessant rain. It will be rescheduled at some other date. Please stay safe wherever you are and I hope that the caretaker administration is taking care of you in such torrential rains. God bless you all!
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 3, 2018
The interim CM of Punjab, Hasan Askari, in a belated visit to the city areas, held the former government for the chaos that followed the torrential rains. In a comment on the sinkhole formed near GPO as a result of the rain, the CM directed for a formation of committee to fix the responsibility.
Moreover, he also announced Rs 0.8 million each for the victims of the rain-related deaths.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan did not miss the opportunity to bash his rivals. In a visit to a rain-affected area after his flight to Karachi was delayed for the same reason, he said that “[politicians] should know that they cannot face the people when they haven’t spent their money properly.”
He also reminded the public that this election is the time for them to decide “if they still want to be ruled by these pharaohs who have taken turns to ruin this country in the past 30 years”.
Chairman PTI Imran Khan Short Media Talk Lahore (03.07.18) 3/3#PMLNExposed #AbSirfImranKhan pic.twitter.com/XficBk8ghj
— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 3, 2018
In a statement, the Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto said that the developing crisis could only be faced through war-footing rescue and relief arrangements, adding that it is time for all of us to stop comparing our cities with Paris and New York and adopt a holistic approach to save our cities and hinterlands during natural crisis and disasters.
Irked by power outages and urban flooding, citizens took to Twitter to express their anger and frustration and likened Lahore to Venice. A Twitter shared a picture of inundated car, saying, “Who says Lahore is Paris? It’s our Venice. Thank you Shehbaz Sharif.”
