FAISALABAD, Feb 18: Downpour and gales on Tuesday paralyzed life in most parts of the Punjab, turning low-lying areas into puddles.
Starting on Monday, the intermittent showers turned into downpour on Tuesday evening, disrupting traffic for hours. Life in the Faisalabad district and its rural areas was not normal.
Some motorcyclists and bicyclists were bruised, but no major accident was reported from any part of the district.
The rain played havoc with low-lying areas, including Warispura, Barkatpura, Sohail-abad, Razaabad, Kamalabad, Ashrafabad, Rasheedabad, Chibban, Haiderabad, Rajawala and Mansoorabad.
The accompanying thunderstorm awashed some mud houses in rural areas and uprooted a number of signboards, hoardings and trees. The rained forced transporters to change timings of vehicles leaving for Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Multan and some nearby towns.
A majority of shopkeepers kept their shops closed in eight bazaars, which were inundated.
The local meteorological office forecast more rain in the next 24 hours in Faisalabad and its adjoining districts.
The citizens complained that emergency centres of Water and Sanitation Agency and Tehsil Municipal Administration failed to redress their complaints.
When contacted, WASA spokesman told this correspondent that the agency had no special arrangement for draining rain water, but it was making efforts to clean streets and roads.
SIALKOT: It rained buckets in the district, where most of the people stayed indoors.
The worst hit areas are Daska, Bhopalwala, Sambrial, Begowala, Uggoki, Pasrur, Chawinda, Badiana, Shakargarh, Zafarwal, Baddomalhi and Narowal.
Few people turned up in educational institutions and offices in the rain that was continuing till last reports came in.
Farmers have welcomed the heavy rain, saying it was a boon for the seasonal crops. Power remained suspended for several hours in the last 24 hours in all the areas.
The meteorological office forecast more rains in Sialkot and Narowal districts today.
GUJRAT: Heavy rains and storm exposed inefficiency of the local municipal administration, which failed to clear roads.
Gujrat Electric Supply Company went through a tough test amid frequent power breakdowns.
Like other parts of the country, Gujrat received downpour which continued till filling of this report. Every road and street in the district was inundated in Gujrat and Lalamusa, and water entered some of the houses.
Scores of people complained that Wapda staff had delayed the restoration of power supply.
BAHAWALPUR: Downpour and hailstorm took the people by surprise.
The continual rain disrupted power and telephone connections throughout the district.
However, people in Cholistan heaved a sigh of relief when they saw torrential rain. The water filled their reservoirs and brought life to the desert.
MULTAN: Rain during the last 24 hours lashed Multan and disturbed the routine life.
The local meteorological office recorded 17.9mm rain at 4.30 on Tuesday evening and forecast cloudy for the next 24 hours.
Agriculturists call the rains beneficial to the Rabi crops, but said the sowing of sunflower might be delayed for a few days.