Daily Times

LAHORE: A heavy rain shower turned the weather pleasant on Thursday. However, the relief brought about by pleasant weather was short-lived as the rain left behind flooded streets and roads, particularly in low-lying areas of the city.

Citizens complained that proper preparation and timely measures by sanitation staff could have ensured proper drainage of rain water.

The city sky was covered in a blanket of dark clouds around 245pm. Soon, heavy downpour ensued bringing the mercury level down and turning the weather pleasant. The rain spell continued for over an hour.

As the rain shower ended, residents in several city neighbourhoods were seen on rooftops and in streets to enjoy the pleasant weather and a temporary break from humidity in the city’s atmosphere. Shops and stalls selling snacks like samosas, dahipakoray and aloo chaat saw surge in number of customers.

Meanwhile, rainwater accumulated on roads and streets and in parks, vacant plots and trenches dug out for laying of cables for cameras to be installed in the city in connection with the Safe City project.

People were seen pushing motorbikes and cars that malfunctioned due to rain water accumulated on roads. Traffic jams were reported from major roads Johar Town and Gulberg areas and on Canal Road, at Qurtaba Chowk, Chauburji, and near Shimla Pahari roundabout.

Efforts by sanitation staff of the city district government were underway to drain water by the time of filing of this report.

Deputy Commissioner Sumair Ahmed Syed visited Lawrence Road, Qutaba Chowk and Lakshmi Chowk areas to monitor dewatering efforts.

A spokesperson at the Lord Mayor Col (retd) Mubashir Javed office said that the mayor was out of country but he was monitoring drainage activities online round the clock.

According to the Met Office, 65mm rain was recorded at Airport area and 22mm in the city.

According to Metrological Department’s daily weather report, light to moderate monsoon currents were penetrating upper and eastern parts of the country, along with a shallow westerly wave that was still affecting upper parts of the country and was likely to persist during next 24-36 hours. The report said that rain and thundershowers with gusty winds were expected at isolated areas of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Dera Ghazi Khan, Malakand, Hazara, Zhob, Kalat divisions and Kashmir.

Published in Daily Times, July 7^th , 2017.