Lahore: Train operations on five rail sections in Punjab have been suspended due to damage caused by ongoing floods and heavy rains, Dawn reported.
An internal Pakistan Railways (PR) report cited by Dawn stated that the Narowal-Sialkot section has been closed since August 27 after floodwaters breached part of the track. The report highlighted that a girder span of Bridge No. 7 near Aik Nullah was misaligned, allowing floodwater to overtop the track. Repairs are underway, and operations are expected to resume by September 12.
The Chak Jhumra-Shaheenabad (Sargodha) section was closed on August 29 after exceptionally high floods damaged Bridges No. 132 and 134 near Chiniot. Restoration work is ongoing to repair or reconstruct the bridges, according to the PR report.
Similarly, the Wazirabad-Sialkot section was suspended on September 3 after floodwaters overtopped the track between Wazirabad and Sodhra Kopra. The Jhang-Shaheenabad section has been shut since August 28 following a breach near the Rivaz Railway Bridge over the Chenab River. Floodwaters are still passing through the damaged section, preventing train operations.
The Khanewal-Shorkot section also closed on September 3 due to high water levels at Abdul Hakim Bridge No. 27 and breaches between Abdul Hakim and Darkana stations. Temporary disruptions were reported on several other sections, including Shahdra-Faisalabad, Lahore-Badami Bagh, Uggoki-Sialkot, Port Qasim-Bin Qasim, Kotri-Dadu, Tando Adam-Hyderabad, and Peshawar Saddar-Cantt, caused by flooding, embankment cuts, mudslides, and fallen trees.
In parallel, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) reported extensive infrastructure damage. Lesco CEO Ramzan Butt said that 73,724 consumers experienced power outages, with 13,073 still without electricity. He added, “The floods have affected our infrastructure, but our teams worked day and night to restore supply. Still, 17 percent of the total consumers remain affected.”
Lesco’s jurisdiction, covering Lahore, Kasur, Nankana, Okara, and Sheikhupura, saw 67 11kV feeders affected, of which 55 have been re-energized. Cable and infrastructure damage occurred in Kasur and Okara, while several parts of Lahore also faced disruptions.
Significant losses were reported in areas under the Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco), Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco), and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco). A Sialkot official noted that in Bajwat, 85 villages have been without electricity since August 26.
