The provincial capital experienced rainfall for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, bringing pleasant weather and a noticeable drop in temperature, while the Met office has predicted more showers during the next 24 hours.
Four-spell rain started early in the morning which remained continue till evening varying low to moderate in most parts of the city and adjacent areas.
According to the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), the highest rainfall of 86 mm was recorded in Nishtar Town. Other recorded rainfall included 36 mm at Airport, 36.4 mm at Kahna, 33 mm at Upper Mall, 30 mm at Gulshan Ravi, 27 mm at Samanabad, 24 mm at WASA Head Office Gulberg, 22 mm at Lakshmi Chowk, Iqbal Town and Pani Wala Talab, 18 mm at Jail Road and Saggian, 15 mm at Chowk Nakhuda, 12 mm at Tajpura, Farrukhabad and Shadipura, 10.2 mm at Mughalpura, 6 mm at Defence Road, and 5.2 mm at Manawan.
Despite the heavy downpour in several areas, WASA claimed that all major roads and underpasses remained clear, with traffic flowing normally across the city. Water was promptly drained from key locations including Ik Morria Bridge, Qartaba Chowk, Lytton Road, Shah Jamal, Waris Road, Empress Road, Cooper Road, Lakshmi Chowk, Nabha Road, GPO Road, Railway Station, Ali Block Garden Town, Chuburji, Karim Park Ravi Road, Bhati Gate, B Block Tajpura, Rasool Park Shama Road, Wahdat Road, Tikka Chowk Johar Town, and Allah-hu-Chowk. WASA’s Monsoon Control Room continued round-the-clock monitoring of the city’s drainage situation, while all disposal stations and operational teams remained fully active to provide timely relief to residents.
Managing Director WASA directed officials to ensure the immediate resolution of public complaints and warned that any negligence in drainage operations would not be tolerated.
Two people were killed and five others injured on Tuesday when the roof of a house collapsed in the Nowshera Road area of Gujranwala, according to TV channels quoting rescue sources. According to initial reports, the victims belonged to the same family. The roof suddenly caved in, trapping the family members under the debris. Two people diedon the spot, while five others sustained injuries.
Rescue teams rushed to the site immediately after receiving reports of the incident. They pulled the deceased and the injured from the rubble, shifting them to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment. Meanwhile, authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the roof collapse. The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has reported low-level flooding at Kalabagh on the Indus River and at Khanki on the Chenab River, while water flows in most other rivers across Punjab remain within normal limits.
According to the PDMA spokesperson, water inflow at Kalabagh stands at 269,000 cusecs, with an outflow of 262,000 cusecs. At Khanki on the Chenab River, inflow has been recorded at 113,000 cusecs, while outflow is 106,000 cusecs.
The authority said water levels remain normal at Marala, Trimmu, Panjnad and Qadirabad on the Chenab River. Flows are also normal at Jassar, Shahdara, Sidhnai and Balloki on the Ravi River, as well as at Ganda Singh Wala, Sulemanki and Head Islam on the Sutlej River. Water levels at Tarbela, Taunsa and Chashma on the Indus River, along with the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, are also within the normal range.
The PDMA has warned that water levels in Punjab’s rivers could rise by July 24. Flood warnings have also been issued for streams linked to the Ravi and Chenab rivers, including Basantar, Deg, Aik, Palkhu, Bhimber, Halsi and Dora. A flash flood alert has also been issued for the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan.
Authorities have further cautioned about the possibility of urban flooding in the divisions of Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sargodha, Okara, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar and Rawalpindi.
PDMA Director General Umar Abbas has directed residents living in riverbeds to move immediately to safer locations. He said the Punjab government has established flood relief camps in vulnerable areas, where essential facilities and medicines will be made available.
He also urged the public to take precautionary measures in view of the weather and flood situation, avoid recreational activities near rivers, canals and streams, and ensure that children are kept away from bathing in flowing water.