Lahore submerged in rainwater, KP areas devastated by flooding

ISLAMABAD: Water levels in rivers continued rising in Punjab and KP and there were reports of flooding in various villages due to overflowing streams.

At least two people drowned in rain water and another sustained injury as intermittent spell of heavy monsoon rains rain wreaked havoc in Lahore, with whopping 203mm of rainfall bringing the life to a standstill in the provincial capital.

According to rescue 1122 sources, two teenage boys of age 14 years and 11 years drowned in the rain water in the city’s Sherakot Babu Sabu and Nawan kot areas, respectively.

Another person got injured in roof collapse incident in Raiwand area, they added.

In view of the situation, Lahore Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rafia Haider said in a notification today that the public, especially youth, while visiting River Ravi and canals bathe in these water bodies, do boating and play on their banks, putting their lives in danger.

“Heavy rain spell[s] this season may cause unfortunate incidents of drowning and loss of precious human lives,” the notification, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, read.

The DC said, “In my opinion, there are sufficient grounds to proceed under Section 144 of the Cod of Criminal Procedure, 1989, as an immediate prevention and speedy remedy in the matter and directions, hereinafter are necessary to prevent loss of human lives and disturbance of public peace and tranquillity in Lahore district”.

Therefore, she added, a prohibition was being placed on “swimming/ bathing/ boating in River Ravi and canals besides playing on the banks of these water bodies in Lahore district” from July 22 (today) to July 28 (Friday).

Separately, the DC said in a statement that there was a complete restriction on going close to Ravi River for any “leisure or business” purposes, adding that families residing near the water body and their animals should be moved to safer locations.

“The water level is consistently rising and I appeal to the citizens to cooperate,” she said and assured that the district administration was prepared to deal with any emergency situation.

Meanwhile, rains and flooding in streams and rivers in different hilly areas of KP devastated public and private properties, and during the past two days five people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents.

Chitral has been worst hit where roads and bridges have been washed away by river and stream flooding. Flooding in rivers and streams blocked the main road connecting Lower and Upper Chitral at different points.

According to the office of the deputy commissioner Chitral Lower, the Chitral-Booni road is blocked at Kari, Koghuzi and Nerdat Gol. Overnight rain and floods damaged bridges at these points and the road was blocked for all types of traffic. 

In a statement, the district administration advised local people to avoid traveling on the road till its reopening. A large number of people are stranded on the road in different villages. Meanwhile, police have asked tourists to avoid visiting Chitral till the roads damaged in many areas are repaired and opened for traffic.