Heavy monsoon rains lashed most areas of Lahore on Thursday, inundating major roads and residential localities while bringing routine business and daily life to a disruptive halt. The downpour exposed the city’s fragile infrastructure, leading to severe waterlogging and highlighting long-standing issues with its drainage capacity.
According to data from the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), the maximum rainfall of 113mm was recorded till 7pm at Paniwala Talab and its surrounding areas. Other parts of the city also received significant amounts, with Iqbal Town receiving 97mm, Lakshmi Chowk 96.5mm, and Gulberg 77.5mm. The intense rainfall overwhelmed the city’s systems, causing widespread disruption.
The storm severely impacted the city’s electricity supply, tripping nearly 80 feeders of 11kV distribution capacity and resulting in extended power outages for many residents. This compounded the difficulties faced by the public, who were already dealing with flooded streets and paralyzed traffic.
A Wasa official explained a fundamental flaw in the city’s planning, noting that Lahore operates on a combined drainage network where domestic sewage and rainwater flow together into the main lines that eventually discharge into the Ravi River. Experts point out that this system is inherently inefficient, as an ideal setup would have separate drainage lines for sewage and stormwater, a deficiency that significantly contributes to the urban flooding witnessed during such heavy downpours.
