LAHORE: As many as twelve persons lost their lives in separate roof collapse incidents in Lahore on Wednesday as relentless monsoon rains pounded the provincial capital and other parts of Punjab.
The downpour, which began early in the morning, triggered two deadly roof collapse incidents in Thokar Niaz Baig and Kot Jamal Pura areas of Lahore. Rescue officials confirmed that five people — including two women, two girls and an elderly man — died in the Maridwal locality of Thokar Niaz Baig when a residential roof caved in.
Urban Search and Rescue teams, assisted by live locators, were deployed to trace survivors trapped under the debris.
In a separate incident, a roof collapsed in the Kot Jamal Pura area along Raiwind Road, resulting in the deaths of three people and the injuries of another. The bodies and the injured were shifted to THQ Hospital Raiwind.
Record-breaking rainfall was witnessed in provincial capital that submerges Lahore.
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), stated that Lahore’s Paniwala Talab recorded 171mm of rainfall — the highest so far this monsoon — followed by Iqbal Town at 169mm. Other areas, including Samanabad, Tajpura, and Lakshmi Chowk, also received more than 100mm of rain.
Major roads such as Ferozepur Road, Canal Road, and Gulberg were submerged, severely affecting traffic flow. In Johar Town’s Board of Revenue Society, rainwater entered residential buildings, prompting urgent drainage measures.
Deputy Commissioner Lahore, Syed Musa Raza, along with WASA officials, visited waterlogged areas near Gaddafi Stadium. He directed immediate drainage work and instructed all assistant commissioners to personally supervise relief operations in their respective areas.
“All WASA staff and district administration teams are actively engaged in drainage efforts,” said Mr Raza. Authorities also urged residents to avoid contact with electrical wires during the downpour to prevent accidents.
Despite the flooding, the Chief Minister’s Complaint Cell reported that all underpasses in the city had remained clear and accessible throughout the day.
Beyond Lahore, intermittent rain was reported in Pattoki, Okara, Sahiwal, Chichawatni, Mian Channu, Sargodha, Sialkot, and Gujrat.
In Faisalabad, torrential rain led to widespread power outages. Similar disruptions were experienced in Arifwala. In Sheikhupura, rainwater entered homes in Shah Colony and Ghang Road, causing distress to local residents.
A woman in Pakpattan lost her life after being electrocuted during the rain, adding to the region’s weather-related fatalities.
The stormy conditions also caused delays in air travel. At Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport, three incoming flights — including PIA flights from Jeddah and Dubai, and a foreign airline — were instructed to hold in the air due to low visibility and adverse weather.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued alerts to all deputy commissioners across Punjab, instructing them to activate emergency protocols and remain on high alert. The current wet spell, according to the Meteorological Department, is expected to continue until July 17.
As rescue and relief efforts continue in affected localities, authorities have urged citizens to avoid unnecessary movement and stay indoors until conditions improve.
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