At least three people died in separate incidents in Lahore on Wednesday after record-breaking monsoon rainfall caused extensive urban flooding across Pakistan’s Punjab province. Officials reported that the heavy precipitation inundated major roads and low-lying neighborhoods, leading to widespread disruptions in the provincial capital.
According to Rescue 1122, the provincial emergency service, one death was caused by electrocution, another resulted from a roof collapse, and a third individual drowned in a flooded underpass.
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) in Lahore recorded 291 millimeters (approximately 11.5 inches) of rain within a 10-hour period. A spokesperson for the agency confirmed this was the highest level of rainfall recorded in the city in 30 years, which exceeded the capacity of drainage systems in several areas.
The downpour resulted in significant standing water on major thoroughfares and in residential areas, impeding traffic and public movement. In response to the flooding, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) announced it had temporarily suspended power to several feeders in submerged areas as a safety precaution.
Punjab’s caretaker Chief Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, visited affected parts of Lahore and directed WASA and other administrative bodies to expedite drainage operations, according to a statement released by his office.
The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued alerts for continued rainfall in the region and advised residents to take precautionary measures. The events are part of the annual monsoon season, which affects large parts of South Asia from approximately June to September. Emergency services remained active in affected areas as of Wednesday evening.
