Lahore Turns into a Pool as Heavy Monsoon Rains Batter Punjab

Torrential monsoon rains wreaked havoc across Lahore and various parts of Punjab on Thursday, turning streets into ponds, disrupting routine life, and causing urban flooding, traffic gridlocks, and widespread power outages.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast that the wet spell will persist intermittently through Thursday night and into Friday, with potential for further disruption in several districts.

City Paralyzed by Deluge

In Lahore, intense rainfall flooded key roads including Mall Road, Jail Road, Ferozepur Road, and Canal Bank, leaving commuters stranded in knee-deep water. Rescue 1122 teams and WASA were deployed in multiple areas, but drainage systems were overwhelmed due to the volume and intensity of rainfall.

According to PMD data, Lahore received:

• 115mm in City areas
• 74mm near the Airport

The situation was no better across northern and central Punjab, with Sialkot, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Jhelum, and Faisalabad all reporting significant rain totals.

Monsoon System Intensifies

The PMD reported that monsoon currents are strongly penetrating the upper and central parts of the country, while a westerly wave adds to the weather intensity.
As a result, widespread rains are expected to continue in:

• Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Murree, Galiyat, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan, and over 30 districts of Punjab.

Flash Flood & Landslide Alert

Heavy downpours may trigger:

• Urban flooding in low-lying areas of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad
• Flash floods in Murree, Galiyat, and hill torrents in D.G. Khan
• Landslides/mudslides in hilly areas like Murree and Galiyat

emperature Outlook:

• Lahore:
  • Max Temp Friday: 31–33°C
  • Saturday: 33–35°C
  • Humidity: 100% in the morning
• Hottest city:
  • Bahawalpur at 40°C, followed by Multan and D.G. Khan at 39°C

24-Hour Rainfall Summary (Top Cities):

Public Reaction: “It Felt Like Venice”

Many residents took to social media, posting videos of submerged roads, floating vehicles, and slow-moving traffic.

“It felt like Venice, not Lahore,” joked one user on X (formerly Twitter