Hours of heavy rain in Lahore and many cities of Punjab has led to many areas being submerged and rainwater accumulating across the provincial capital.

Citizens have been facing difficulties commuting near Barkat Market, Gulberg, Kalma Chowk and their adjoining areas due to knee-deep water accumulated in these areas. Around 80 feeders of LESCO have tripped, hampering power supply to many areas, including Gulberg, Walled City, Gulberg.

The rain has been going on in intervals since at least 5am. Low-lying areas as well as some developed areas have been left under water and WASA and other civic authorities are nowhere to be seen as cars, motorcycles and other vehicles get stalled on the inundated roads.

On the other hand, long queues of vehicles could be seen in Garden Town and Ferozepur Road, as people en route to schools and offices face great difficulty.

As light to heavy showers continue through the city, the maximum rainfall in Lahore was reported from Tajpura with 190 millimeter, followed by the airport area with 188mm, Nishtar Town 174mm, Gulshan-e-Ravi 162mm, Gulberg 158mm and Johar Town 135mm.

Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority Director General Imran Qureshi has directed all the deputy commissioners to remain on alert.

He has instructed the relevant departments to stay alert to deal with any emergency situation, adding that emergency operation centres in all the districts, including the provincial control room, have been alerted.

Rescue 1122 and other rescue organisations should keep their staff as well as machinery on alert, Imran Qureshi stated.

Over in Karachi, the Met Office has forecast light to moderate level of rain today and tomorrow. The city’s weather today is expected to remain partly cloudy, as the weather department says sea breeze has completely halted.

From today, the minimum temperature of the city could be 28 degrees Celsius, while the maximum is likely to remain between 36-38 degrees.

Meanwhile, heavy rain has also been reported in other parts of Punjab, including Shakargarh, Phoolnagar, Burewala, Renala Khurd, Pattoki, Hafizabad, Chiniot, Nankana Sahib, which reduced temperatures and ended the warm spell and humidity.

Electricity feeders tripped in many areas, which affected power supply, while many low-lying areas were submerged.

The Met Department has forecast the rain spell is likely to continue.