The Punjab Home Department has officially declared Section 144 throughout the province and issued an official notification that during the monsoon season, certain activities will not be allowed as it is essential for the safety of public.
Swimming in dams, rivers, canals, ponds, and lakes has been banned, it is said in the notification. Unauthorised boating is also prohibited in dams, rivers, canals, ponds, lakes and distributaries. Furthermore, the use of rainwater that collects on streets, roads, open spaces or other public areas is not allowed.
The conditions will stay in effect for 60 days, and are being put in place given the current weather conditions to protect lives.
A spokesperson of the Punjab Home Department advises against people bathing in rainwater, especially in times of heavy rain, due to the risks it poses, especially to children and young people. The spokesperson also pointed out that water in dams, rivers, canals, ponds and lakes in Punjab is currently over the high level, thus swimming and boating are highly hazardous.
The spokesperson also added that this is the decision of the Punjab Home Secretary under Section 144, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. District Administrations and police stations have been instructed to enforce the order strictly.
Heavy monsoon rains have resulted in large amounts of water in low lying areas and open spaces, which poses a serious risk for accidents and loss of life, the Home Department added.
Earlier, the ongoing monsoon spell resulted in the death of at least 19 others and dozens injured in rain-related incidents all over Pakistan.
A house roof in Garhi Shahu in Lahore collapsed killing a husband, wife and their daughter and injuring another daughter.
Three siblings of Ali Sher Khan aged 15, Iman aged 14 and Falak Sher aged 13 in Gujrat died after the roof of their home collapsed.
Two people, including a seven-year-old child, were killed after a roof collapsed in Kasur. In Hujra Shah Muqeem, a woman died and four others were injured, following the collapse of their home’s roof.
In the district of Raja Jang in Kasur, 10-year-old Saad and 11-year-old Ehsan drowned in the flooded water.
There were also a number of fatalities caused by electrocution incidents. In Bahawalnagar, a seven year old child was electrocuted, in Okara a person died from contact with an electrified utility pole and in Daska a man, father of 5, was killed by a contact with an electrified utility pole.
In Sheikhupura, a bus conductor was killed and six passengers injured when the wires of an electrical pole came in contact with a bus.
A child was killed after being hit by lightning in Umerkot and a man drowned in flood water in Tharparkar.
Meanwhile, in the Darsamand area of Hangu, two children lost their lives and three people, including two women, are injured after heavy rains caused the roof of their house to collapse.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted further rainfall in the country and the threat of flash flooding in some cities.
Also read: Flash floods, heavy rain kill 28, injure 29 in KP: PDMA
