June 30, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 14, 1428

SIALKOT, June 29: The monsoon rain spell which began on Thursday night caused flooding and paralysed life in several districts of central and southern Punjab on Friday. There were reports of long power failures.

In Sialkot, the rain began early in the morning and continued the entire day intermittently, inundating all the low lying areas. The electricity supply remained suspended for five to six hours.

The power failure in Daska lasted the entire Thursday night.

Thousands of the people remained stranded along the banks of river

Tavi as the boating could not be started by boatmen due to a spat in river Tavi.

While the wet sell brought misery for the people of low-lying areas, it brought a relief from hot and humid weather. Paddy growers also welcomed the rain.

GUJRANWALA: Storm water entered houses and shops because of poor drainage.

It also affected electricity and landline phone system.

VEHARI: The rain started at noon and continued till the filling this report at 7pm. It caused flooding in all urban and rural areas of the district.

BAHAWALPUR: The 27mm rain on Friday afternoon exposed the poor drainage system.

Low-lying areas and kachi abadis were the worst hit.

Two people died in rain-related incidents in the district. Wahab (16)of Javed colony was killed by lightening during heavy rain. Shakil (14) was electrocuted in Dhinot town.

KHANEWAL: The three-hour long spell of heavy rain from submerged all roads.

For cotton and sugar cane growers, it was a major relief as both the crops were in need of watering.

MULTAN: Localities of Manzoorabad, Sharifpura, Shaheenabad, Bewa Colony, Haram Gate, and Writers Colony were flooded.