Buzdar orders drainage of stagnant rainwater hindering Eid sacrifices in Lahore

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Sunday ordered immediate drainage of stagnant rainwater that has been hindering Eid ul Adha sacrifices as well as disposal of animal waste.

Expressing great displeasure over the accumulated rainwater in some low-lying areas of Lahore, Buzdar directed officials of the Water And Sanitation Agency (WASA) to immediately clear it, asking why no precautionary measures were taken ahead of the torrential downpours earlier today. He also sought a report over the issue.

The negligence of the concerned authorities is regrettable, he said.

A delay in this regard is unacceptable, Buzdar stressed, adding that the process must be completed with the use of necessary machinery in the minimum possible time.

According to the WASA officials, water had collected on roads in multiple localities of Lahore, including on Kashmir Road. "Water is being pumped out of some low-lying areas," they added.

The WASA officials said the rainwater would be cleared shortly.

Earlier today, torrential rains lashed Lahore as the city celebrated the second day of Eid, making it difficult to carry out sacrifices. While the downpour stopped after a few hours, it led to a lot of challenges across the provincial capital.

Rain in Lahore and surrounding areas continued from 7:30-9.30am, with the highest rainfall of 71 millimetres (mm) recorded in Tajpura.

Lahore's Lakshmi Chowk, Farrukhabad, Walled City, Allama Iqbal International Airport, Gulshan-e-Ravi, and Nishtar Town received 69 millimetres (mm), 65mm, 63mm, 50 mm, 47 mm, and 42 mm of rainfall, respectively.

The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) said it was facing challenges in picking up and disposing animal entrails due to the rain following sacrifices early in the morning.

According to a spokesperson for the LWMC, the cleaning operation was underway despite the rains.

"Over 16,500 tonnes of entrails were removed from the city yesterday. So far on the second day, more than 3,000 tonnes have been removed and over 19,500 tonnes have been disposed of since yesterday," the spokesperson added.

On the other hand, the deputy inspector-general (DIG) of operations in Lahore, Ashfaq Khan, said security was on high alert at the city's entry and exits points. He also directed that the implementation of coronavirus-related safety measures be ensured during Eid ul Adha.