Floodwater Enters Parts of Lahore, Timely Evacuation Prevents Loss of Life
LAHORE: Floodwater from the River Ravi entered several residential areas of Lahore on Thursday morning, inundating roads and damaging houses and infrastructure. Thanks to timely evacuation by the district administration, no residents were trapped, and human loss was successfully averted.
Areas Affected
According to reports, the localities affected include Shafiqabad, Farrakhabad, Tallat Park (near Shahdara Bridge), Theme Park (Multan Road, Chuhng), and some blocks of Park View Housing Society.
Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza confirmed that water flow in the Ravi has reached 220,000 cusecs, close to the river’s designed capacity of 250,000 cusecs. He added that the last major flood was recorded in 1988, when water flow rose to 345,000 cusecs, causing extensive damage in Shahdara and nearby areas.
“This is the highest flow since 1988, but the situation is under control, and we expect water levels to decrease in the coming days if no further discharge comes from India,” the DC said.
Relief and Evacuation Measures
The administration reported that all families from the affected areas were evacuated in advance. While some shifted to relatives’ homes, others moved to relief camps established in government schools.
The camps are providing:
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Three meals a day
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Mattresses and pillows
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Basic medical assistance
In addition, animals owned by the residents have been shifted to safer areas.
Park View Housing Society Situation
Deputy Commissioner Raza reassured that Park View Housing Society is largely safe due to embankments built by developers. “The developers worked around the clock to build strong protective barriers. Moreover, evacuation has already been carried out, and Rescue 1122 is on standby,” he said.
However, some residents reported that floodwater entered two uninhabited tail-end blocks and later spread into more blocks. Most families locked their houses and moved to either relatives’ places or relief camps.
Voices from the Ground
In Theme Park, residents recalled the tense hours before water entered their homes. “We left on time after government announcements. The water did reach our house, but thankfully everyone is safe,” said Jannat Bibi, now staying with relatives in Johar Town.
Ongoing Monitoring
The district administration has deployed officials to monitor the situation in real time, working in coordination with multiple departments to ensure safety and minimize damage.