LAHORE: Heavy rain accompanied by a hailstorm over the last two days damaged wheat crops and solar power installations in parts of south Punjab, including Multan, Muzaffargarh, Kot Adu and Layyah.

The weather system brought intermittent downpours, strong winds and hail in several areas, including Lahore.

Farmers in Muzaffargarh and Kot Adu reported losses where hailstones struck fields, while similar damage was reported from Layyah. Residents also reported damage to solar panels installed at homes and agricultural tubewells, with hailstones cracking panels and disrupting power supply in some areas.

The rain also disrupted the electricity supply in the urban and rural areas, with most of the areas witnessing loadshedding upto 24 hours.

Forecast for more rain in parts of Punjab

The rain and windstorm also caused damage to the electric poles in Alipur tehsil of Muzaffargarh district, where several poles fell and caused complete power supply disruption in rural and urban areas.

Alipur Mepco XEN Sanaullah said that they were working to fix the poles and electricity supply would resume after the completion of the work. He could not provide a timeline to fix the damage caused to the electrical infrastructure and said the storm and rain were heavy and it would take time to reinstate the structure to provide electricity.

In Multan city, rain that began on Thursday night continued, with heavy showers resuming on Friday, prompting the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) to declare a high alert.

Wasa Managing Director Faisal Shaukat directed that all disposal stations be operated at full capacity to ensure drainage from highways, major intersections, low-lying areas and residential areas. Officers of sewerage and disposal divisions and field staff were called in, and a citywide drainage operation was launched.

The MD, along with Deputy Managing Director (Engineering) Zeeshan Shaukat Gondal and Director Works Hafiz Muhammad Waqas, visited disposal stations and different localities to review drainage operations, machinery and field arrangements.

According to a rainfall report, 24mm rain was recorded at Kadi Jamandan disposal station, 13mm at Old Shujabad Road, 10mm at Suraj Miani, 7mm at Chungi No 9 and 4.4mm at Khan village.

Officials said that staff had been directed to ensure early drainage from roads and low-lying areas and remain in the field until completion of the operation, while complaints were being addressed.

Meanwhile, rain was also reported in Lahore, where different parts of the city received light to moderate, heavy showers. There were reports of uprooting of trees and damage to solar panels.

According to the Wasa Lahore data, Tajpura recorded 13.4mm rainfall, Nishtar Town 15.8mm and Johar Town 13.8mm, while several other localities received light rain or drizzle.

The rainfall in Lahore affected routine activities, and a match of the Pakistan Super League was delayed due to wet outfield.

The Met Office has forecast more rain in parts of Punjab, and authorities have advised farmers to take precautionary measures to minimise losses.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2026