LAHORE: The city received 28 millimetres of rain on Monday, causing a drop of eight degrees Celsius in the mercury level in the last 24 hours (down to 25.8 degree Celsius) and refreshing the weather. Drizzling continued by the time this report was filed.

Even the maximum temperature was only 27.2 degree Celsius. Weather pundits predicted the wet spell to continue for another 72 hours, forecasting scattered and heavy rains in Punjab, and dusty winds for the city.

Humidity was recorded at 84pc in the morning and 88pc by evening. According to Met officials, low pressure area hovered over eastern parts of Maharashtra (India) and was moving northwards. At the same time, moist current from the Arabian Sea is also penetrating into Sindh, Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and can cause rains in these areas.

Thundershowers may hit Sindh (Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad and Karachi) and Balochistan (Kalat division) for the next 48 hours. The same trend is predicted for Punjab and Kashmir.

“Tributaries of rivers Chenab and Ravi might overflow with medium to high floods,” said an official of the Met department. However, all other rivers are expected to flow normally as they did during the last 24 hours.

“Some rain in Kashmir could be good news for Mangla Dam, which is sliding fast to the horrors of water planners,” an official of the Irrigation Department said. It has already hit 1,228 feet, some 14 feet below optimum level. Rain in the area might benefit the lake by raising the base flow of the river for the next week or so and provide some additional water for irrigation in a highly stressed situation, he added.

DRAINAGE: The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) on Monday claimed to have drained out all the accumulated rainwater by 4:30pm from various spots by running pumping stations before the rain started.

According to a spokesman, since the rain started at 9am measuring 8mm, 24mm, 60mm, 75mm, 18mm and 82mm at Airport, Jail Road, Farrukhabad, Paniwala Talab/Walled City, Upper Mall and Chowk Nakhuda, respectively, Wasa management put its field staff on high alert directing them to ensure drainage of rainwater as soon as possible.

He said rainwater at Lakshmi Chowk was drained out at 2:30pm with the help of four newly installed pumping stations.

On the other hand, the heavy rain inundated a number of roads in Johar Town, GPO Chowk, Lakshmi Chowk, Wahdat Road and Walled City, causing inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed all administrative officers concerned to remain present in the field to monitor the situation after heavy rains, and elected representatives to keep an eye on disposal of rainwater from low-lying areas.According to a handout, the CM said all-out resources should be utilised for drainage of rainwater from low-lying areas and steps taken for smooth flow of traffic.

HELD: Various price control magistrates got 13 shopkeepers arrested for overcharging and hoarding in open markets. They also imposed a fine of Rs80,500 on several others.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2014