Heavy rains on Sunday inundated several areas in Lahore and tripped 67 feeders suspending electricity supply to numerous areas. Although, rain brought down the temperature to a pleasant range but at the same time left several areas inundated in many parts of the country including Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad and other regions. In Lahore, the maximum rainfall was recorded as 80 millimetres while several areas including Samanabad, Bhati Gate and Gulshan Ravi were flooded with rain water as the local administration failed to take any appropriate preventive measures. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), rain-thundershowers with gusty winds are expected at isolated places in Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Malakand, Hazara, Mirpurkhas, Karachi, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. As many as 14 flights were cancelled and 15 delayed as heavy rain continued to lash the provincial capital of Punjab. The Civil Aviation Authority said that it will comply with the directives issued by the PMD. Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed the local administration as well s the Water & Sanitation Authority to remain on alert and have told the relevant officers to personally monitor the developments. The weather turned pleasant after the downpour but became a cause of traffic jams in the city outskirts. Storm clouds gathered above Lahore during the wee hours of the day and since then, massive rainfall has been reported across the city and the adjoining areas. The heavy rains in Lahore forced Lahore Qalandars to call off the opening day of group B matches in Players Development Programme Tournament. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium was flooded with water following the two hours’ spell of heavy rain in the city. “We were told by the ground staff that it is not possible for the ground to be prepared for cricket in the next few hours, hence we have decided to call off today,” Lahore Qalandars Director Aaqib Javed said. Gujranwala Qalandars were scheduled to play with Faisalabad Qalandars while Lahore Qalandars were to play with Rawalpindi Qalandars on Sunday. “We want the players to get the maximum opportunity to play, he said. The former pacer added that games will now resume today (Monday) if the weather permits. Published in Daily Times, September 10th 2018.