Punjab Rains: 17 Fatalities Reported, CM Issues Safety Directives
3 days ago
At a glance
- 17 people have died and 107 injured in rain-related incidents across Punjab.
- Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed grief and issued safety directives to the public and officials.
- Drainage efforts are ongoing, with rapid clearance reported in several cities despite heavy rainfall.
Story so far
Punjab is currently experiencing a spell of monsoon rains, with monitoring underway in all related cities through Safe City cameras. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and has been actively involved in directing relief efforts. Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb previously stated that CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif's initiatives led to record-time drainage in flood-affected areas, attributing this to planning that began in March for erratic monsoons. The provincial government established Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) offices in 41 districts, now owning over 1000 machinery units, decentralizing drainage operations. This has resulted in rapid clearance, such as Gujranwala experiencing 250mm of rain with drainage completed within 4 to 5 hours, and the Lahore High Court area clearing in just one hour, a task that previously took four weeks. The Punjab Development Program, with a budget of 300 billion rupees, has upgraded 70-year-old drainage and sewerage systems in critical areas. A central command system actively monitors and controls operations. Despite these extensive efforts, 17 fatalities and 107 injuries have been reported due to the ongoing heavy monsoon rains, prompting the Chief Minister to issue further safety directives and appeals to the public.
Latest development
Seventeen people have died and 107 sustained injuries in rain-related incidents across Punjab during the current monsoon season. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed profound grief over the loss of lives and issued directives for public safety, urging citizens to avoid canals and unsafe buildings, while instructing officials to ensure rapid drainage and continuous monitoring.
Latest updates
In the ongoing monsoon season, 17 people have lost their lives and 107 others sustained injuries in rain-related incidents across Punjab. Of the fatalities, 12 occurred due to the collapse of old and dilapidated buildings, two were caused by lightning strikes, and three resulted from electrocution. The injured are currently receiving medical treatment.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has appealed to the public to avoid visiting or bathing in canals, rivers, and seasonal streams during the monsoon and potential flood situations. She also urged citizens to stay away from structures with a risk of roof collapse and advised residents of unsafe buildings to voluntarily evacuate. The Chief Minister directed deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, and other relevant departments to closely monitor unsafe and dilapidated buildings, rivers, canals, and flood channels. She instructed authorities to ensure immediate drainage of rainwater from streets, markets, roads, and underpasses, and to remain present in the field to supervise relief and drainage operations. She also emphasized maintaining smooth traffic flow.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued a monsoon flood situation fact sheet. According to the report, monsoon rainfall was recorded in most districts of Punjab during the last 24 hours. Despite heavy rainfall, rainwater drainage was completed in the shortest possible time. The highest rainfall was recorded in Gujranwala (250 mm), followed by Sialkot (139 mm), Mandi Bahauddin (138 mm), Narowal (117 mm), Hafizabad (85 mm), Chakwal (70 mm), and Okara (64 mm). In Gujrat, rainwater was drained within just three hours.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of lives in rain-related incidents across Punjab.
Several fatalities have been reported across Punjab due to the ongoing heavy monsoon rains.
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