Heavy rainfalls on Wednesday claimed at least nine lives in Punjab province, seven among them in Lahore, with the possibility of deadlier spells to come over the next days, according to sources.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab said three people were electrocuted as Lahore Electric Supply Company’s infrastructure submerged during the heavy rains.
It is reported even the city’s posh areas including Gulberg and Defense Housing Authority turned into pools.
The torrential spells accompanied by strong winds caused the collapse of the roof resulting in the death of three people, and one person drowned in rainwater floods in the city.
Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi in a tweet said, “291 millimeters rain in just nine hours caused water ponding on roads and canals have overflown in Lahore.”
The provincial weather forecast authorities have warned of equally disastrous spells of heavy rains to shower parts of the province on Friday and Saturday respectively.
In the wake of disastrous rains, the Metrological Department has already issued alerts so that everyone in the country needs to get prepared.
Following the heavy rains, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the Punjab government to take urgent measures and mobilize rescue teams amidst deadly rain spells in the province.
This comes as Pakistan is already adversely affected by climate change, particularly with the last year’s flooding which hit the country the worst in years, causing heavy financial losses throughout the country.
