Provincial metropolis received more rain Saturday morning, which has again flooded the city, and more rain was expected in the next 24 hours. According to the meteorological office, at Lahore City and airport, 35mm of rain was recorded, which had kept the temperature down. Maximum temperature recorded was 32 Celsius degrees while minimum temperature was 22 Celsius degrees. However, humidity was as high as 71 percent in the morning and 60 percent in evening.
Other parts of the country also received rain: Mandi Bahauddin (21mm); Jhelum (10mm); Dir (4mm); and Faisalabad (3mm).
For the next 24 hours, the met office predicted partly cloudy weather with chances of thunderstorm and rain in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Multan, Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan and Faisalabad regions.
Business and trade activities badly suffered due to rain, while people had to face hardships due to inundation of various areas as well as roads.
The two-day rain also exposed failure of the City District Government Lahore and Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) to pump out rainwater from various areas.
Not only low-lying areas of the city badly hit by torrential rain; water was seen standing in posh areas, which paralysed the routine life, besides affecting business and trade activity.
Residents of various localities of Northern Lahore including Misri Shah, Wasanpura, Tezab Ehata, Sultanpura, Shadbagh, being low-lying areas, had to face hardships.
Similarly, Laxami Chowk, GPO Chowk, Nabha Road, Old Anarkali, Meclagan Road, Hall Road, Queen's Road, Waris Road, Mozang Chungi, Abid Market were seen under knee-deep water.
Wasa had allocated a substantial amount of Rs 4.2 billion for revamping of sewerage and drainage system in the city during the current financial year. Besides, 10 tube-wells were also planned to enhance pumping capacity. Moreover, a project of Rs 150 million has been prepared to ensure prompt pumping of rainwater from Northern Lahore.
The monsoon season, started on July 1, has negated tall claims of city district government and Wasa.
The industrial area of Township also badly affected due to rains, as 4-5 feet water is still stagnant in most of industrial units of the area. The rainwater also entered in shops, showrooms and workshop situated at PECO Road, which caused huge loss to shopkeepers in the area.
Not only the city district government but cantonment boards (both Lahore and Walton) also failed in redressing peoples' problems arising out of rains. Areas including Saddar Bazar, Walton Road, Qainchi Amar Sadhu, Shaukat Town, Rizwan Town, Abid Colony were the most affected parts of cantonment areas.
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has formed a committee headed by Punjab revenue minister Gul Hameed Rokri to streamline efforts in rainy season and asked the provincial health administration to form camps and inoculate people in affected areas.
The Chief Minister, asking the local administration to take measures to keep the sewerage system effective in monsoon, issued orders for uninterrupted power supply to pumping stations.
The Chief Minister averred that a system to evaluate index of water at barrages should be evolved. He said the provincial government during monsoon has provided 5.6 million vaccination doses for animals.
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