6 killed as heavy monsoon rains wreak havoc in Lahore

Heavy monsoon rains battered Lahore on Saturday, submerging major roads, disrupting traffic, and leaving at least six people dead in separate weather-related incidents.

Officials confirmed that torrential downpours — the heaviest of the season so far — inundated low-lying areas, with the city’s infrastructure struggling to cope with the pressure. The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) reported record-high rainfall in multiple localities.

Fatal incidents across the city

Rescue officials said two people were killed and two others injured when lightning struck in Lahore’s Kahna area. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital.

In Old Anarkali, a man lost his life when the roof of a mud-and-T girder house collapsed during the downpour. The Urban Search and Rescue team pulled the body from the debris after several hours of effort.

Meanwhile, three more people were killed and four others injured after the roof of a house caved in on Bedian Road. Rescue teams retrieved the injured and shifted them to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.

Torrential rains flood major roads

An hour-long spell of heavy rain turned several key arteries — including Johar Town, Wapda Town, Gulberg, Ferozepur Road, Canal Road, and Muslim Town — into rivers, severely hampering the movement of vehicles.

Residents also reported widespread power outages, traffic jams, and waterlogging, with many describing the city as being “paralysed” under the weight of the downpour.

WASA rainfall statistics

According to WASA, Nishtar Town recorded the heaviest rainfall at 145 mm, followed by Chowk Nakhda with 117 mm and Tajpura with 116 mm. Upper Mall received 107 mm, Iqbal Town 106 mm, and Laxmi Chowk 102 mm of rainfall.

Meteorological Department’s warning

Deputy Director of the Meteorological Department, Irfan Virk, said the ongoing spell would continue intermittently for the next 24 hours. He further warned that another system of monsoon rains is likely to enter Pakistan in the last days of the first week of September.

So far, Pakistan has received 12 percent more rainfall than the seasonal average, raising concerns about further flooding in urban centers like Lahore.