Lahorites enjoy rainy weather

LAHORE

The heat-stricken citizens thronged public parks and other entertainment places on Sunday after the city received moderate rain, while Met officials predicted more rain during the next 24 hours.

The rain started early Sunday and continued till the evening intermittently bringing down the mercury. Westerly clouds also continued to cover the city skies, luring the citizens to come out of their homes and reach public parks and other entertainment places to enjoy the rainy weather.

The rain completely turned the moods of Lahorities and majority of road users who used to quarrel with each other in intense heat were smiling and enjoying the splashes of water.

Slight traffic jams were seen at the underpasses and major crossings as motorcyclists and pedestrians stood under shady places during the rain, which was playing hide and seek with them. Rainwater also washed the city after which the people saw true green colour of trees, which were earlier covered under layers of dust.

Public places such as Model Town Park, Lahore Zoo, Jillani Park, Lawrence Garden, Iqbal Town Park, MM Alam Road, Lahore Fort and its surrounding areas, Greater Iqbal Park at Azadi Chowk and Shalimar Gardens had a large number of visitors. Picnickers were seen running and playing in rain at these places with their families and friends. Salman, a resident of Bastami Road, said he came to Lahore Fort with his family to enjoy the weather. “I live in a two-room small house and don't have an air-conditioner to beat the heat so I came to the park with my family to enjoy the natural air -conditioners,” he said.

Akhtar Ali, a resident of Faisal Town, said he came to Model Town Park with his family to enjoy the weather. He said it seemed all Lahore had come to the park as there was no place to sit.

Afshan, a resident of Misri Shah, said she brought her younger sister and brother to Lahore Zoo and they were really enjoying the weather. 

Met officials said the prevailing westerly wave was affecting the upper and central parts of the country. They said dust-thunderstorm/rain with gusty winds was expected at isolated places in Lahore, Multan, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Gujranwala, Bahwalpur, Rawalpindi divisions, Islamabad, FATA and Kashmir.

Rainfall was recorded in different cities, including Parachinar, Joharabad, Sahiwal, Mianwali, Sargodha, Lahore, Kasur, Gujranwala, Okara, DG Khan, Garidupatta and Balakot. Met officials said that Sunday’s maximum temperature was recorded at Shaheed Benazirabad where mercury reached 48°C while it was 47°C in Dadu and 46°C in Larkana and Sakrund.

In Lahore, the maximum temperature was 25°C and minimum 24.7°C. Humidity was 61 percent.