{
  "id": 1413628,
  "title": "Lahore, Gujranwala divisions: Closure of culverts, ill-planned infrastructure caused recent flooding",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/lahore-gujranwala-divisions-closure-of-culverts-ill-planned",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T03:37:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2023313/lahore-gujranwala-divisions-closure-of-culverts-ill-planned-infrastructure-caused-recent-flooding"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the recent flooding that occurred in Lahore and Gujranwala divisions during the last week of July, the Punjab Irrigation Department identified closure of culverts and ill-planned infrastructure as contributing factors. The existing drainage network, consisting of man-made and natural drains, had been serving as storm-water drainage for decades. However, over time, these drains were widened and strengthened, but the overtopping and breaches occurred at several locations along the nullahs and drainage network, causing massive inundation over an area of nearly 2,729 square kilometers. The Gujranwala irrigation zone, which includes parts of Sheikhupura district and various districts of Gujranwala division, experienced unprecedented average monsoon rainfall of 579mm, compared to its average of 240mm. The worst-hit areas included Sheikhupura (Ferozwala and Muridke tehsils), Sialkot, Narowal, Zafarwal, Sambrial, Daska, and Gujranwala. The irrigation department set up flood camps, shut down MR Link, UCC, and BRBD Link canals due to severe damages, and engaged a pool of 76 earth-moving machinery for repair and plugging breach sites. Local inhabitants were also accused of making unauthorized cuts to divert rainwater into the drains, which ultimately outfalls into Dek Nullah. The report suggests that conversion of existing drainage systems into seepage-cum-storm water drains and addressing ill-planned infrastructure development along nullahs and drains are necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future.",
  "summary": "LAHORE: Closure of culverts, ill-planned infrastructure development etc. was among the factors that caused devastation in recent flooding during the rains in various parts of Lahore and Gujranwala divisions during the last week of July. This was revealed in an internal report shared recently by the Punjab Irrigation Department with the top authorities. It states that the existing drainage network…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}