Lahore experienced record-breaking rainfall on Thursday, breaking a 44-year-old record. The heavy downpour caused widespread flooding, with water entering homes, submerging roads and highways, and even reaching the emergency wards of hospitals, causing significant challenges for patients.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported that Tajpura received 315 millimetres of rainfall while Lahore Airport recorded the highest rainfall at 336 millimetres. Other areas, including Nishtar Town (250mm), Pani Wala Talab (226mm), Johar Town (220mm), and Gulshan Ravi (210mm), also saw significant rainfall.

The heavy rain has led to the tripping of over 400 feeders across the city, causing widespread power outages. The Lahore Electric Supply Company was waiting for the rain to stop before starting restoration efforts.

In addition to Lahore, other cities in Punjab, including Sheikhupura, Kasur, Pakpattan, Sargodha, Jhelum, Murree, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad, have also experienced heavy rainfall, leading to flooding in low-lying areas.

Lahore had already broken a 30-year-old rainfall record last month.

According to the PMD, the monsoon rains are expected to continue across Pakistan until August 6.

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Tragic Incidents

In Rawalpindi, a young girl reportedly drowned in a rain-filled drain while riding a scooter. Rescue teams have launched a search operation.

Two children drowned while swimming in a pond created by erosion near Faisalabad Road in Sargodha. Local residents recovered the bodies, and rescue officials arrived at the scene. The children were cousins and from the same family.

More rains expected in Lahore: Met official

Heavier than usual rainfall has been predicted for Lahore, Mahr Sahibzad Khan, the director for regional meteorological centre, said at a press conference in Islamabad.

“The monsoon season is currently ongoing, which lasts for three months,” he said and added that the heavy rainfall in Lahore was predicted in the city

“The rainfall at the Lahore airport today [Thursday] has broken records. In 1980, 332 millimetres of rainfall was recorded, but today 360 millimetres of rainfall was recorded at the airport, he said.

The RMC director added that there have been incidents of landslides in Azad Jammu and Kashmir as well. There was seven per cent less rainfall across the country in July, however, Balochistan has seen 23% more rainfall, he said.

The highest rainfall recorded so far this July was 662 millimetres at the Lahore airport, Khan said and added: “July saw five monsoon spells.”

He went on to add that heavy rainfall was beneficial for the rice crop.

The water level at the Tarbela Dam has now reached 1,526 feet, Khan stated. “There is still ample storage capacity left in all the dams,” he said.

Khan warned that there was a possibility of flooding in the Chenab River if the rain spell continued. But there is no threat of flooding at the Tarbela and Mangla dams, he added.

“There is a risk of river flooding in the tributaries of the Ravi,” the Met Office official said.

All departments on alert, says Punjab spokesperson

All departments were on high alert after the forecast of heavy rains, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said

“The water was drained out in the minimum possible time,” Azma said at a press conference as she advised people to avoid fake and old videos.

The provincial spokesperson claimed that services at the hospital were restored after the water was removed.

“It would be unfair to continue reporting news even after the water has been drained,” she said and added that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was monitoring all the matters.

Azma added that the PML-N did not politicise rain when the downpour wreaked havoc in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as she mentioned that 24 people lost their lives in the province due to the rains.

Without naming the PTI, she said that one party “is still doing politics.” The provincial government spokesperson claimed that the provincial government has cleared a large part of Lahore.