Lahore (Web Desk): At least five people died and several others injured after monsoon rains swept through Lahore and multiple areas in Balochistan on Wednesday.
The relentless downpour led to extensive urban flooding, especially in Lahore and surrounding districts, severely disrupting daily life and exposing long-standing issues in the city's drainage systems.
In Lahore, many low-lying neighborhoods and key roads were submerged following two spells of intense rainfall—first from 2:45am to 5:40am, and later from 10:45am to 12:11pm.
According to figures provided by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) through its Monsoon Control Room, the city recorded an average of 58.8mm of rain. Nishtar Town bore the brunt with 84mm, followed closely by Lakshmi Chowk with 78mm and Paniwala Talab with 74mm.
The flooding in these and other areas like Jail Road, Qurtaba Chowk, and Gulberg (WASA Head Office, 69mm) led to sewage mixing with rainwater, creating a hazardous environment for residents.
The downpour highlighted the shortcomings in Lahore's drainage infrastructure, as key urban arteries turned into rivers of stagnant water.
A tragic incident was reported from Yakki Gate, where a child lost their life after coming into contact with exposed electric wiring. Additionally, multiple feeders from the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) failed during the rain, cutting off power to numerous areas.
Residents along Barki Road expressed frustration, saying the city administration delayed sending equipment to remove water from their streets, focusing instead on affluent neighborhoods.
Despite assurances from the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) about field operations and the clearance of more than 6,000 waste containers, many citizens reported no visible change in conditions on the ground.
Localities such as Farrukhabad and Johar Town, receiving 49mm and 39mm of rainfall respectively, suffered especially due to inadequate or non-existent drainage facilities.
Elsewhere in Punjab, heavy rains lashed multiple districts. Khanewal saw 51mm, Rawalpindi 42mm, Sahiwal 44mm, Murree 41mm, Okara 30mm, Mandi Bahauddin 27mm, Mangla 24mm, and Toba Tek Singh 13mm. Rainfall was also reported in Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Kasur, Bahawalnagar, Sargodha, Multan, and Jhang.
Rescue 1122 officials confirmed nine deaths in Punjab due to rain-related incidents. In Sheikhupura, two children died after the roof of their house caved in. Four people were rescued from debris following a building collapse in Pakpattan. In the Jhelum valley, a cloudburst destroyed roads, homes, and vehicles, intensifying the crisis.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, heavy rainfall is expected to persist across much of Punjab, including Lahore, until July 13.
Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Irfan Ali Kathia, stated that thunderstorms are likely in districts such as Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, and Hafizabad. To prevent mishaps, Section 144 has been imposed along riverbanks and canals across the province.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned that water levels are on the rise in the Indus, Kabul, Chenab, and Jhelum rivers. Low-level flooding is expected at locations such as Tarbela, Kalabagh, Chashma, and Taunsa along the Indus.
Similar concerns exist for Marala and Khanki on the Chenab, and at Mangla on the Jhelum. Hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, as well as seasonal streams in parts of Balochistan like Jhal Magsi, Kachhi, Sibi, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, and Musakhel, also pose a threat.
Balochistan reported additional casualties due to the rain. In Khuzdar, a wall collapse killed a man named Muhammad Arif and left another person, Ehsanullah, injured. Meanwhile, in Mastung's Bolan Colony, an LPG tanker overturned on slippery roads, killing Muhammad Yaqoob on the spot.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, the situation worsened as heatwaves accelerated glacial melting, triggering floods and erosion that severely affected infrastructure, homes, and agriculture. River overflow in several valleys—including Hoper, Hisper, and Nagar Khas—cut off road access and damaged bridges and water supply systems.
Supultar Nallah once again damaged an RCC bridge and inundated farmland in Tokorkot, while flooding from Hamari and Supultar Nallahs halted both irrigation and access to clean drinking water for communities in Nagar Khas and Hoper.
Rising water in the Khunjerab River led to power outages in Upper Hunza, submerging electric poles and cutting off supply to Gojal villages. In Gilgit, erosion along the Shigar River damaged the K2 Road, stranding residents and foreign tourists.
Officials attributed the flood surge to rapid melting of the Baltoro Glacier. Flash flooding in Babusar Valley and Chilas also resulted in the destruction of homes and crops.
Though the Karakoram Highway had been blocked near Chilas, authorities managed to reopen it on Thursday, allowing thousands of passengers to continue their journeys.
In the Jutal area of Gilgit, more homes and farmland were affected as rivers rose further, leaving many communities without access to water, electricity, or safe transport routes.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency (GBEPA) voiced deep concern about the broader impact of climate change in the region. Officials pointed to shrinking snowfall and increased glacial melt as warning signs of a looming water crisis.
In a bid to improve public safety, mobile operator Jazz has teamed up with the NDMA to roll out geo-fenced alerts through the Disaster Early Warning System (DEW-3). More than 23 million subscribers in high-risk areas are set to receive location-specific messages warning of potential floods.
These alerts are intended to boost community awareness and support timely evacuations where needed.