LAHORE – The City received rainfall of varying intensities at scattered places on Sunday, providing much needed respite to the Lahorites from the prevailing muggy weather.
Some localities received downpour, submerging roads and streets into knee deep water while others received light rain and showers or even no rain at all.
In Northern Lahore and Cantonment, heavy rains brought the routine life to a standstill as the rainwater inundated roads. In several localities, roads and streets were presenting pictures of lakes and ponds.
The rains smashed to the ground tall claims of Wasa regarding its preparedness for the rainy season. The premier sanitation agency took hours to clear rainwater from several localities. Massive traffic jams were witnessed on important arteries in Cantonment and Northern Lahore because of rainwater on portions of roads and roadsides.
Rains, overcast conditions and continuously blowing winds caused considerable decrease in the mercury, providing much needed respite to the Lahorites from the prevailing muggy weather in the evening.
People came out of their houses after Iftar to enjoy somewhat pleasant conditions after the rainfall. Major parks and picnic spots attracted a large number of people, including women and children. A huge rush was witnessed at Bagh-e-Jinnah, Jillani Park, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Jallo Park, Lahore Zoo and other picnic spots in the City. Traffic jams were also witnessed on roads in the close vicinity of these picnic spots.
Before and after the rainfall, the City remained in the grip of sultry weather, causing Lahorites to sweat profusely. Clearing of sky after the rain and lack of winds again turned the weather muggy.
Lahore Canal, as usual, attracted a large number of people, including women and children. Not only youth, but also elderly people were seen bathing in the Canal. At some places, even women were seen beating the heat by taking a dip in the mud-coloured Canal water.
LOADSHEDDING CONTINUES: Severe loadshedding was witnessed on second day of Ramazan and right at the time of Sehr and Iftar when it was most needed. The power supply remained suspended in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Jhang, Sargohda, Bahwalpur and other major cities of the province.
The electricity shortfall touched 4,500MW causing 16 hours loadshedding in urban and rural areas, reports collected from various stations stated on Sunday. The sources said total production of power on Sunday was 13,000 MW while demand was 17,000 MW. An officer of Wapda said due to mechanical testing at Chashma, two power plants were shut down causing shortage of another 650 MW. The rulers promise of controlling the menace of loadshedding in the holy month of Ramazan, have fallen flat.
Consumers were of the view that despite paying electricity bills they were being deprived of basic need like electricity. Irfan resident of Lahore said rulers should at least facilitate masses in the holy month of Ramazan. He said people were suffering a lot due to loadshedding during Sehr and Iftar timings.
The sources said the power distribution centre (PDC) announced only 12 hours loadshedding in urban areas and of 16 hours in rural area. But unannounced loadshedding of 16 to 20 hours continued in urban and rural areas.