'Hibernating masses rush to recreation

LAHORE The City received 37mm rain on the second consecutive day on Saturday with experts predicting the wet spell to continue with intervals during the next couple of days. The rains, overcast conditions and continuously blowing winds made weather pleasant by causing considerable decrease in the day and nighttime temperature. The rainfall of light to moderate intensity, however, added to the woes and miseries of the Lahorites as the rainwater inundated the roads not only in low lying areas but also in several posh localities. Several roads were seen submerged in knee deep water even hours after the stoppage of rains, smashing to the grounds tall claims of premier sanitation agency regarding its preparedness for three months long rainy season. Inundated rainwater on roads, roadsides and slippery conditions disturbed normal vehicular flow on a number of important City arteries throughout the day. Massive traffic jams were witnessed on a number of important roads including The Mall, Jail Road, Ferozepur Road, Multan Road, Lytton Road, Main Boulevard Gulberg, Davis Road, Nisbat Road, Main Boulevard Iqbal Town, and Sharah-e-Fatima Jinnah. Several incidents of skidding of motorcycles were also reported from various parts of the City. People come out of their houses in the evening to enjoy pleasant change in weather. 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, Lahore Zoo and other picnic spots in the City. Massive traffic jams were also witnessed on the arteries in the close vicinity of these picnic spots. On Saturday, maximum and minimum temperature in the City was recorded 30 degree Celsius and 22.3C respectively. Relative humidity in the morning was recorded 77 percent which decreased to 65 per cent in the evening. According to the experts, Fridays deep depression over North Bay of Bengal has moved west-northwestward and on Saturday lies over West Bengal. A trough of westerly wave is moving across northeast of Afghanistan. Seasonal low lies over northeast Balochistan and adjoining areas. Moist current from Arabian Sea is reaching Punjab and Kashmir up to 5,000 feet. Local meteorological department has forecast partly cloudy weather with chances of thunderstorm/rain for the City during the next couple of days. Met office has forecast rains at isolated places of Hazara, Malakand, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, DG Khan and Bahawalpur divisions, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. On Saturday, Sargodha received 13mm rain, Kohat 12mm, Islamabad and Mianwali 9mm each, Okara 8mm, Bahawalnagar 7mm, Murree 5mm, Sahiwal 3mm, Rawlakot, Bhakkar and Kotli 2mm each while Mangla, Skardu, Shorkot and Mandi Bahauddin received traces of rain.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt