Lahore, August 02, 2024, The Europe Today: Pakistan’s second city, Lahore, experienced record-breaking rainfall on Thursday, inundating homes and hospitals across the metropolitan area. The city, located near the border with India, saw an unprecedented 353 millimeters (14 inches) of rain within a few hours, according to NHC and also the Water and Sanitation Agency.
This deluge surpasses the previous record of 332 millimeters over three hours, set in July 1980, as confirmed by authorities. The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) deputy director, Farooq Dar, described the event as “record-breaking rainfall” in the region, according to the AFP news agency.
Emergency Measures and Casualties
In response to the severe flooding, Lahore’s city commissioner declared a state of emergency, closing all schools and offices for the day. At least one fatality has been reported, with a person electrocuted amidst the chaos.
The intense downpour led to the rapid flooding of numerous streets, and rainwater breached wards in both the Jinnah and Services hospitals, causing significant disruptions for patients and healthcare workers. Government officials have pledged all available resources to expedite clean-up operations in the affected areas, including the hospitals.
Widespread Impact and Historical Context
The effects of the heavy rainfall extended beyond Lahore. The mountainous northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also experienced significant rainfall over the past three days, resulting in at least 24 deaths, as reported by the provincial disaster management authority.
Heavy rainfall is a common occurrence in the region during the monsoon season, which spans from June to September. However, Pakistan has faced increasingly severe weather events in recent years, with the catastrophic rainfall of 2022, particularly in the southern and northern regions of the country, being linked to climate change by scientists.
The neighboring country of India has also suffered from extreme weather, with more than 180 fatalities in the southern state of Kerala following heavy rains that triggered landslides in the hilly region.
As Lahore grapples with the aftermath of this historic rainfall, the broader implications of climate change continue to underscore the urgency of addressing environmental challenges on a global scale.
