LAHORE - Plains of the country including Lahore received first significant winter rain on Tuesday, giving relief to the citizens from prevailing smog by washing away pollutants.
The wet conditions disturbed routine life by causing inundation on portions of roads, roadsides, power outages and frequent traffic jams.
Rainfall of varying intensities and continuously blowing winds caused decrease in the mercury level, increasing chill in weather during the day and at night.
Skardu remained the coldest place in the country where mercury dropped 04 degree Celsius below the freezing point.
In Lahore, overcast conditions, continuously blowing winds and scattered showers increased chill in weather by decreasing temperature. Maximum and minimum temperature in Lahore was recorded 18 degree Celsius and 13C respectively. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded 85 per cent.
The wet conditions washed away hazardous pollutant from the atmosphere, giving much needed relief to the smog stricken citizens. The rains are also likely to decrease prevalence of dry cold related diseases. People preferred to stay indoors to avoid exposure to harsh weather conditions. Excessive usage of heaters at offices and homes led to low gas pressure. In certain areas, women faced huge difficulties in cooking meals for their families. Wet conditions and strong winds also caused tripping of more than 100 LESCO feeders. More than two dozen feeders could not be restored even until filing of this report. The rains added to the woes of motorists and pedestrians by causing inundation on portions of roads and roadsides. Massive traffic jams were witnessed on major arteries due to inundation of rainwater and slippery conditions. The situation was worst along route of under construction Orange Line Metro Train, portions of Johar Town, Ali Town, Judicial Colony, Westwood Colony, Mughalpura, Jorey Pul, Naseerabad, Harbanspura, Badami Bagh, Queen’s Road, Sir Agha Khan Road, Kashmir Road, Nicholson Road and Nabha Road.
Several incidents of skidding of motorcycles were also reported from various parts of Lahore. According to the experts, westerly wave is affecting upper and central parts of the country and likely to persist for next 48 hours.
More rain-thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills is expected at scattered places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Islamabad, upper Punjab( Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha divisions), Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Dense foggy conditions are likely in plain areas of Punjab. Risalpur received 30mm rain, Zhob 23mm, Layyah 16mm, Bhakkar 15mm, D I Khan 14mm, D G Khan 12mm, Kot Addu 11mm, Khanpur 09mm, Shorkot, Chakwal, Noorpurthal and Barkhan 08mm each, Jhang and Islamabad 07mm each, Multan, Kamra, MB Din and Jacobabad 06mm each, Bannu and Cherat 05mm each, Mangla and Moenjodaro 04mm each, Larkana, Bahawalpur, Kasur , Murree, Sargodha, Kotli and Quetta 03mm each, Toba Tek Singh, Rohri, Joharabad, Gujranwala, Kohat and Sukkur 02mm and Lahore 01mm.
