PM takes notice as Lahore remains inundated after record rain

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday ordered the Punjab government and the district administration to take measures for water drainage as Lahore remained inundated after receiving record rain, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

PM Shehbaz ordered all the concerned departments to be mobilized and work immediately to relieve the citizens from the suffering.

Shehbaz directed the authorities to highlight the alternative routes and regulate the traffic flow disturbed by the flood water. He gave the departments a deadline of 24 hours to drain the water stagnant at the roads.

The rain in Lahore broke the record of the highest rainfall in a short period of time. 262 mm of rain fell in a time span of six hours and 47 minutes whereas 238 mm of rain fell in ten hours last year and 288 mm of rain was recorded in 14 hours.

The sewage water flooded the turf worth Rs160 million in the National Hockey Stadium Gulberg as there is no proper drainage system.

WASA drained the water at the entrance of the Nishtar Sports Complex, however, Sports Board Punjab premises was still flooded despite the rain having stopped for more than 12 hours.

Kalma Chowk Underpass was flooding with rain water and closed for the traffic as the authorities failed to drain out the water. The Central Business District (CBD) along with WASA tried their best to drain the underpass through Sub-mersible pumps and other temporary pumps which resulted in a very slight drop of the water level. The traffic in the surroundings was under extreme pressure as the underpass was closed.

Shehbaz ordered the provincial governments and the district administrations of other areas across the country to work together and relieve the citizens immediately.