Daily Times

Tall claims of the previous government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz of turning Lahore into Paris was flushed out in several hours of relentless torrential rain that continued from Monday night in the provincial metropolis.

Persistent downpour not only exposed the 10 years’ performance and development of former chief minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, but also the worthless arrangements regarding monsoon of District Administration, Metropolitan Corporation Lahore, Lahore Waste Management Company, Lahore Development Authority and of other concerned departments.

The rain wreaked havoc in the city and caused several deaths and accidents. Several vehicles submerged into the water on roads causing grave trouble for the drivers and the passengers. Most parts of the city plunged into darkness after more than 200 feeders of the
city tripped. A thin attendance was recorded at universities, offices
and government sectors due to rain.

It is also pertinent to mention that sinkholes in front of GPO Chowk, Mall Road raised several questions on the performance of concerned departments and durability of Orange Line Metro Train project. Meanwhile, the traffic police closed the section of Mall Road immediately afterwards and diverted traffic on other roads. The traffic police also released a traffic diversion plan.

Commissioner Lahore Division Mujtaba Paracha, Deputy Commissioner Lahore Captain (r) Anwarul Haq, the Lahore Development Authority director general and other high ups reached the spot after reports of the sinkhole reached. Commissioner Lahore, DG LDA, DC Lahore, Water & Sanitation Authority (WASA) managing director and others held a meeting at a container already placed near the spot for OMT Project and prepared the next plan of action to prevent such deadly sinkholes.

WASA and Lahore Waste Management Company’s (LWMC) employees remained busy flushing out water from the main roads and chowks of the city but only while the authorities were present.

DC Lahore Anwarul Haq soon after getting information from the MET office about the torrential rain alerted WASA, LWMC, Zonal and District Administration and directed them to be vigilant and to focus on the low lying areas of the city.

However, their staff remained absent from duties.

He also instructed assistant commissioners to visit their jurisdiction during and after the rain and to monitor the de-watering activities of WASA teams. Similarly, District Administration deputed officials to ensure the constant electricity supply to WASA disposals.

It is pertinent to mention that never before has a 238mm rainfall been recorded in three hours’ long rainfall in the last 38 years’ history of Lahore.

The heavy rain lashed different areas of the city and other parts of the country also. A maximum rainfall was recorded in Farrukhabad, Lakshmi Chowk, Airport, Jail Road, Upper Mall, Tajpura, Nishter Town, Pani Wala Talab, Gulshan Ravi, Allama Iqbal Town, Samanabad, Johar Town, Mughalpura and Chowk Nakhuda.

Officials have appealed to the citizens to beware of the hanging electricity wires and polls. On the other hand, a large number of people also staged a protest demonstration against Parks & Horticulture Authority in front of Greater Iqbal Park after entry was barred due to accumulating water in the parks.

Monsoon currents from Arabian Sea are continuously penetrating upper and central parts of the country. A westerly wave is also present over upper parts of the country and are likely to persist during the next 48 hours. Heavy rainfall is also expected at isolated places in Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Kohat and Kashmir.

Published in Daily Times, July 4^th 2018.