LAHORE: The Motorway M-5 has been closed to all types of traffic between Rahim Yar Khan and Rohri after strong winds and a severe storm caused high-tension transmission lines to fall onto the roadway, disrupting traffic flow and raising serious safety concerns, officials said on Monday.
According to a spokesperson for the Central Region Motorway Police, the closure was enforced as a precautionary measure after electricity cables collapsed at location 510 on both southbound and northbound lanes of the motorway. The incident led to immediate suspension of heavy and public transport movement in the affected stretch.
Traffic on the route has been completely diverted to alternative highways to ensure passenger safety. Motorway Police confirmed that vehicles travelling from Punjab towards Sindh are being rerouted via Rahim Yar Khan onto National Highway N-5, while travellers coming from Sindh towards Punjab are being guided through the same diversion before rejoining the motorway network.
Heavy traffic movement has been stopped from Rohri and Pano Aqil towards the northern side, officials added.
Repair teams from Multan Electric Power Company have been dispatched to the site to remove the fallen transmission lines and restore power infrastructure, while the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has also been informed to assist in clearance and restoration operations.
Motorway Police Sector Commander Ghulam Qadir Sindhu, along with patrolling units, is present at the site to supervise traffic management and ensure public safety.
Authorities have urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and strictly follow diversion instructions until the affected section is reopened.
Restoration work is currently underway, but officials have not announced a timeline for reopening the affected stretch of the motorway.
Meanwhile, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Monday issued an alert in view of possibility of a windstorm, rain and hail at some places across the province from June 2 to 5.
According to the PDMA spokesperson, rain has been predicted in most districts of Punjab during the said period.
He said rain is likely in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiat, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Bhakkar, Layyah, Faisalabad, Jhang, Okara, Gujranwala and Hafizabad. Similarly, rains have also been predicted in Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Khushab and Mandi Bahauddin. Rains are also expected in Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Jhang and surrounding areas.
PDMA Director General Umar Javed has said that an alert has been issued to the commissioners and deputy commissioners across the province and all the relevant institutions have been directed to be ready to deal with any emergency situation.
He appealed to the citizens to stay in safe places during lightning and thunder and avoid going near open places or high objects.
He advised the farmers to ensure advance measures to protect their crops and agricultural activities keeping in mind the weather conditions.
He added that tourists should be aware of the weather conditions while traveling to the northern areas and take precautionary measures.
Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2026