At least eight people lost their lives, and 14 sustained injuries in separate incidents as torrential rains affected Punjab for the second consecutive day. This monsoon rains broke 30 years’ record in Lahore.
At least eight people died and several others wounded in accidents. As heavy monsoon rains broke a 30-year record here in the provincial metropolis on Wednesday.
Rescue officials said most of the people died of electrocution. As Lahore witnessed 291 millimeters of rain that broke a 30-year record. Earlier, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that six deaths were reported in rain-related incidents in Lahore.
He said cabinet members and all relevant departments were in the field to take an effective part in drainage operation. Moreover, Punjab interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi told journalists that the injured would receive free treatment.
The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) had warned earlier in the day. That heavy rainfall may lead to a “very high to exceptionally high level” of flooding in River Chenab between July 8-10.
The FFD warned “A deep trough of westerly wave along with strong incursion of monsoon currents from both sources and approaching upper air circulation. Widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls at scattered places is expected. Over the upper catchments of rivers Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab and up to some extent over River Jhelum.”
Other Warnings
A weather forecast issued this morning by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warns: “Heavy rain may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Okara, Kohat, Peshawar, Bannu, Karak and Dera Ismail Khan […] from July 6-8.”
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It further warns that the heavy rain “may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”.
“Heavy falls may cause flash floods in hill torrents and local nullas of Kashmir, Dera Ghazi Khan, Kohlu, Sibbi, Barkhan, Zhob, Loralai, Qilla Saifullah and Musa Khel during the period,” it cautions.
It went on to predict that “high to very high-level flood is expected in the nullas of River Ravi and Chenab”. Moreover, they requested citizens to take precautionary measures to avoid any untoward situation