Lahore receives heavy downpour; life paralysed

The provincial capital on Monday received heavy downpour, which inundated majority of city localities, and thus leaving the city life paralysed. The heavy downpour, which peaked in the night, left its familiar visible mark on the city. During the day the city received 49mm of rain while at night 69mm and lasted for over two hours.
Rainwater had accumulated on all streets and roads, and hence causing inconvenience to the people, especially those living in low-lying localities. In some places cars were seen submerged in water. The rain turned majority of roads into filthy mini-lakes with tons of waste material and plastic bags floating on the water, causing a great deal of nuisance to the public, especially the motorists who had to pass through an ordeal with the traffic flow coming at a snail pace. Also, rainwater had entered major hospitals and houses in low-lying areas. On the Canal Road, underpasses was filled with rainwater and thus effecting the flow of traffic severely. Commuters returning to homes at night were stuck up in chaotic traffic for hours and many people were seen pushing their vehicles on flooded roads.
The places where rainwater had accumulated included Lakshmi Chowk, Misri Shah, Wasanpura, Chauburji, Monzang Chungi, Muslim Town, Samanabad, Gulberg, New Garden Town, parts of Johar Town, a few areas of Defence, Model Town, Town Ship, Lahore Railway Station, Peaco Road, Shahdara, Bhatti Gate, Kashmir Road, Chowk Nakhuda, Aziz Road, Eik Moria Pul, Do Moria Pul, Sheranwala Gate, Garhi Shahu, Begumpura, University of Engineering and Technology, Mulghalpura, Shalimar Link Road, Sandha, Shajmal, Ichhra, Gulberg and Islampura, GPO Chowk on The Mall.
The rain that hit the city early in the morning and continued on interval basis till night washed away all the arrangements and plans of Wasa and thus forcing the people to wade through deep pools of water for several hours. Wasa's tall claim of improving the drainage system was exposed, as most part of the city submerged in the ankle-deep water or more. Many people complained of not seeing any Wasa staff to drain out the rainwater from the streets. The only officials who were seen on roads were the Commissioner Lahore and DCO Lahore. They rushed around the city to monitor the situation and through electronic media advised the people to stay home to avoid any inconvenience.