September 03, 2006	Sunday	Sha'aban 9, 1427

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LAHORE, Sept 2: Continuous rain on Saturday inundated almost the whole city, badly disrupting life as there was no road and street that had not been turned into a pool. Many drains overflowed and their filthy water entered ground floors of houses and shops in adjoining areas. The most severe problem in this regard was reported from Islamia Park, Samanabad.

For the first time during the last decade, rainwater was even overflowing footpaths along the Jail Road.

Ironically, not a single mobile unit or de-watering set of Wasa was seen operating in the city to provide relief to the citizens confined to their houses and offices.

The Met office recorded 90mm rain in the city by 5pm while in northern Lahore the downpour was heavy and was continuing till filing of this report.

The worst hit areas were Laxmi Chowk, GPO, Nisbet Road, Jane Mandir, Nabha Road, Old Anarkali, Nila Gumbad, McLagan Road, Thornton Road, Waris Road, Queens Road, Mozang Adda, Lawrence Road, Ichhra, Begum Kot Road, Ravi Road, Iqbal Town Main Boulevard, Faisal Town, Garden Town, Akbar Chowk, Kot Lakhpat, main DHA Road, Walton Road, City railway station area, Misri Shah and areas in Northern Lahore.

Long queues of vehicles were seen at every intersection due to stagnant water. Motorcyclists were seen towing their two-wheelers through the rainwater, which was over 12 inches deep at some places. Dug-up roads added to the miseries of motorists.

More roads, streets and footpaths would be damaged if water remained standing for long hours.

According to a press release, district nazim Mian Amer Mahmood visited various disposal stations in the city to review arrangements for rainwater drainage.

Wasa officials in Nishtar Town and Tajpura, where power supply was reportedly cut off, were directed to contact Lesco authorities for ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply so that rainwater could be drained out as early as possible.