LAHORE - Parts of the country including Lahore received rainfall of varying intensities yesterday, bringing life to a standstill by causing urban flooding, frequent power shutdowns, massive traffic jams and water shortage.

Experts have forecast more rains during the next couple of days. The downpour disturbed routine life in major cities including Lahore as the rainwater inundated roads not only in low-lying areas but also in several posh localities.

Inundated rainwater caused massive traffic jams in urban areas. The rains and high velocity winds, however, provided respite to the people from the prevailing muggy weather by causing considerable decrease in the mercury level.

In Lahore, strong winds started blowing at noon that followed by heavy rains, submerging roads and streets not only in low lying areas but also several posh localities in knee deep water. Major roads, not only in northern Lahore but also in several posh localities, were presenting pictures of lakes and ponds even hours after stoppage of rains.

Many roads were not cleared from inundated rainwater even six-eight hours after the rain stopped.

Many vehicles and motorcycles were seen broken down in various parts of the city. Massive traffic jams were witnessed at major roads due to inundation of rainwater.

Several incidents of skidding of motorcycles were also reported from various parts of the city.

Localities along route of under construction Orange Line Metro Train, underpasses on the Canal Bank Road, Main Boulevard Gulberg, Lakshami Chowk, Chowk Nakhuda, Mozang, Revaz Garden, Chuburji, Ichra, Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Garhi Shahu, Ghazi Road, Samanabad, Main Boulevard Iqbal Town, Wahdat Colony, Shadbagh, Montgomery Road, Data Nagar, R A Bazar, Nishat Colony, Farukhabad, Tajpura and Mughalpura were the worst affected areas.

Windstorm and rains caused tripping of more than 50 Lesco feeders, out of which 10 could not be restored till late night.

Overcast conditions, strong winds and rains made weather pleasant by causing considerable decrease in temperature during the day and nighttime. Maximum and minimum temperature was recorded 31 degree Celsius and 25 C respectively. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded 92 per cent.

People came out of their houses in the evening to enjoy pleasant weather after the heavy monsoon rains. Major parks and picnic spots attracted a large number of people including women and children in the evening.

Huge rush was witnessed at Bagh-e-Jinnah, Racecourse Park, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Jallo Park and Lahore Zoo in the evening.

According to the experts, seasonal low lies over north Balochistan. Yesterday's low pressure area over east Rajasthan (India) now lies over north Rajasthan and adjoining areas. Due to this weather system strong monsoon currents are penetrating upper and central parts of the country and likely to continue during next 24 to 36 hours.

Local meteorological department has forecast partly cloudy weather with chances of rains for Lahore during the next couple of days.

Rain-thunderstorm  accompanied by gusty winds (with isolated heavy falls) is expected at a number of places in Kashmir, Punjab and Islamabad and at scattered places in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, upper Sindh (Sukkur, Larkana divisions), eastern Balochistan (Zhob, Sibbi, Naseerabad divisions) and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Heavy downpour may trigger flash flood, landslides and GLOF events in the vulnerable areas of Punjab, KP, GB and Kashmir.

On Wednesday, Sialkot received 95mm rain, Mandi Bahauddin 76mm, Islamabad 71mm, Joharabad 64mm, Faisalabad 62mm, Rawalpindi 53mm, Jhang 52mm, Chakwal 41mm, Bannu 39mm, Lahore 30mm, Sargodha 29mm, Noorpurthal 27mm, Sahiwal 22mm, Bhakkar 21mm, Mangla 17mm, Karma 13mm, Gujranwala 12mm, Dir 11mm, Malamjabba 09mm, Balakot and Jhelum 06mm each, Bahawalnagar 05mm, Saidu Sharif, Kakul and Kotli 04mm each, DG Khan and Gujrat 03mm, Rawalakot 02mm and Murree, Pattan and Muzaffarabad 01mm each.