LAHORE - Parts of the country received rainfall of varying intensities on Thursday.  Rain-thundershower associated with gusty winds occurred at scattered places in Kashmir, Punjab, Khyber PK and Gilgit-Baltistan and at isolated places in lower Sindh.
The second spell of monsoon started a couple of days ago and continued intermittently on Thursday, disturbing routine life as the rainwater inundated roads not only in low-lying areas but also in several posh localities.
Inundated rainwater and slippery conditions of roads caused massive traffic jams in urban areas. The rain coupled with windstorm, however, made the weather pleasant by causing considerable decrease in temperature during the day and at nighttime.
In Lahore, strong winds started blowing in the morning that followed by rains, submerging roads and streets not only in low lying areas but also in several posh localities into water. Cloud bursts smashed to the ground tall claims of Wasa regarding its preparation for monsoon as it took hours to the premier sanitation agency to clear roads from inundated rainwater. 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. The rains added to the woes and miseries of motorists and pedestrians. Massive traffic jams were witnessed at major City roads due to inundation of rainwater on portions, roadsides and slippery conditions. Several incidents of skidding of motorcycles were also reported from various parts of the City. Lakshami Chowk, Garhi Shahu, Chowk Nakhuda, Harbanspura, Jallo, Batapur, Farrukhabad, Mozang, Cooper Road, Chuburji, Zeldar Road, Samanabad, Main Boulevard Iqbal Town, Wahdat Colony, Rehman Pura, Shadbagh, Johar Town, Saidpur, Shahnoor, Scheme Mor, Sabzazar, Abbot Road, Montgomery Road, Gawalmandi, Data Nagar, Tajpura, Mughalpura, Maskeen Pura and Joray Pul were the worst affected areas.
On Thursday, maximum and minimum temperature in the City was recorded 33 degree Celsius and 26 C respectively. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded 74 percent.
People come out of their houses after Iftar to enjoy pleasant change in weather after the monsoon rains. Major parks and picnic spots attracted a large number of people including women and children. Huge rush was witnessed at Bagh-e-Jinnah, Racecourse Park, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Jallo Park.
According to the experts, well marked seasonal low lies over North Baluchistan and adjoining areas. Another low lies over Northwest Madhya Pradesh, India. Strong monsoon currents from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are penetrating into upper and central parts of the country. A westerly wave is also affecting upper parts of the country and expected to persist during next 24 to 36 hours.
Local meteorological department has forecast rain-thundershower associated with gusty winds at scattered places in Kashmir, Punjab including Islamabad, Khyber PK, Gilgit-Baltistan and at isolated places in Lower Sindh (Karachi, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad divisions) and Kalat division during the next 24 hours. Few heavy falls are also expected in Kashmir, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha and Lahore division during next 24 to 36 hours.
On Thursday, Rawalakot received 44 mm rain, Bhakkar 42 mm, Islamabad (Saidpur 38 mm, Zero Point 27 mm), Kakul, Bannu and Tobe Tek Singh 37 mm each, Lahore (Farrukhabad and Chowk Nakhuda 35 mm each, PBO 16 mm, Airport 12 mm), Dir and Chakwal 27 mm each, Malamjaba, Sahiwal and D I Khan 24 mm each, Murree 23 mm, Mangla 21 mm, Balakot 20 mm, Nagerparker 19 mm, Saidu Sharif 17 mm, Peshawar (Civil 17 mm, PAF 05 mm), Muzaffarabad 15 mm, Rawalpindi Chirat and Garhi Dupatta 12 mm each, Gujrat 11 mm, Hunza and Gujranwala 09 mm each, Parachinar 08 mm, Bunji, Kotli and Risalpur 06 mm each, Lower Dir 07 mm and Drosh 05 mm.