Monsoon chaos: Punjab is battered by intense rain, leaving 33 dead and numerous others injured

At least 33 people have died and dozens more have been injured in rain-related incidents as a result of the torrential monsoon rains that have disrupted daily life throughout Punjab, particularly in Lahore.

Twelve people have died as a result of various rain-related incidents in Lahore alone. Overnight, a lot of the city’s roads became virtual ponds due to the constant, intense rain. Rainfall continued intermittently throughout the day, resulting in urban flooding in a number of neighbourhoods.

Pani Wala Talab received the most rainfall in the provincial capital, with 171 mm, followed by Iqbal Town (169 mm), Tajpura (167 mm), Mughalpura (135 mm), and Lakshmi Chowk (133 mm), according to WASA.

Intense rains also flooded low-lying areas in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. There have been reports of sporadic showers as the downpour continues.

The monsoon rains have pounded Punjab, causing flooding in a number of cities, including Daska, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sangla Hill, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib, Bahawalnagar, Pakpattan, Arifwala, Kasur, and Farooqabad. Showers are falling continuously in Azad Kashmir as well.

Tragic events occurred all over Punjab. Five members of one family were killed when the roof collapsed in the village of Mureed Wala in the Thokar Niaz Baig area of Lahore. Manga, age 60; Ishrat, age 55; Khadija, age 3; Latifa, age 4; and Rani, age 35, are among the deceased. Faisal, 30, and Bubbly, 5, were the other two injured.

Three people were killed when a roof collapsed in Raiwind’s Mission Colony, but one person was saved. A similar collapse in Kot Jamal, Raiwind Road, left one person dead and three injured. Three more people were killed in another roof collapse on Mominpura Road in Baghbanpura. In Harbanspura, two children also perished from electric shock.

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Rain-induced roof collapses in Faisalabad claimed four lives. A mother and son were hurt in Chishtian when the roof of their home collapsed. In Pakpattan, a similar incident injured three more people. Three people were hurt in Jamshoro, and roof collapses also claimed lives in Haveli Lakha and Okara. Three people were shocked to death in Renala Khurd and Shujabad.

The current monsoon season is predicted to last until July 17 and the Meteorological Department has predicted more intense rainfall in the majority of Punjab’s districts over the next 24 hours.

Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have issued warnings about possible landslides in several districts and heavy rains. In this context, NDMA has released an alert.