Lahore Experiences Highest Rainfall in 30 Years, Breaking Records
LAHORE: The city of Lahore witnessed a historic event as it recorded over 290mm of rainfall within a span of 10 hours, breaking a 30-year-old record, according to Commissioner Lahore Mohammad Ali Randhawa. The heavy downpour, attributed to climate change and a strong monsoon, led to more than a dozen areas receiving over 200mm of rain. This extraordinary weather event has prompted the city administration and the Water and Sanitation Authority (Wasa) Lahore to work tirelessly to ensure efficient drainage of rainwater.
Record-Breaking Rainfall:
Randhawa stated that this year’s rainfall surpassed the previous records. In 2021, Lahore received the highest rainfall of 256mm on June 26, while in 2022, 238mm of rain was recorded. Comparatively, in 2018, the city experienced 288mm of rain. Such a significant amount of rainfall within a short period of time has not been witnessed in the last three decades.
Efforts to Combat Waterlogging:
MD Wasa Ghafran Ahmed assured that once the rain subsides, all low-lying areas would be promptly cleared. Notable areas in Lahore, such as Lakhsmi Chowk, Nishter Town, Gulshan-e-Ravi, Johar Town, Qurtaba Chowk, Tajpura, Pana Wala Talab, and Iqbal Town, received substantial amounts of rain.
Impact on the City:
The relentless rainfall paralyzed Lahore, leading to waterlogged roads that made commuting nearly impossible. Many vehicles broke down due to the knee-deep water, while houses in low-lying areas like Shah Jamal and Tajpura were inundated. Furthermore, the power supply was cut, worsening the living conditions for the affected residents.
Government Response:
Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the city to oversee relief operations and expressed concern about the urban flooding and canal overflow caused by the record-breaking rain. He assured the public that the cabinet members and administration were actively working to clear the water, and he personally monitored the situation and received updates from various areas in Lahore.
Urban Flooding and record breaking rain of 272ml in just 9 hours causing water ponding on roads in Lahore. Canal has also overflown.
All Cabinet members & Administration are in field to clear the water.
I am also monitoring the situation in field and getting updates from…— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) July 5, 2023
Future Forecast and Impact on KP:
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had previously issued a warning about the possibility of moist currents from the Arabian Sea and a westerly wave entering the upper parts of the country. Heavy rainfall was anticipated from July 4 to 7 across Pakistan. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at least three individuals lost their lives in rain-related incidents, while several houses were damaged and people sustained injuries.
Flood Warning:
The latest meteorological analysis suggests that the combination of a deep trough of the westerly wave, strong monsoon currents, and an approaching upper air circulation may result in widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls in the upper catchments of Rivers Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab. Consequently, the advisory warns of the likelihood of very high to exceptionally high-level flooding in River Chenab, with potential flooding in rivers Ravi and Sutlej, depending on releases from India. Additionally, the nullahs of Rivers Ravi and Chenab may also experience high to very high-level flooding.
Top 3 Key Points:
- Lahore breaks a 30-year-old record with over 290mm of rainfall within 10 hours.
- Climate change and a strong monsoon are attributed to the heavy downpour.
- The city faces urban flooding, disrupted transportation, and power outages.
Published in PakWeb, July 05, 2023.
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