Roof collapses killed at least four people and two others were electrocuted in rain-related incidents, said Jam Sajjad Hussain, spokesman for the Rescue 1122 service.

“Rescue officials using boats saved several persons in the outskirts of Lahore who were stranded in water,” Hussain said.

Motorists said journeys that normally took five minutes were taking up to two hours because of flooded roads.

“Whatever road you go on, it is filled with water. We are extremely distressed,” motorcyclist Ahmed Shahzad said.

Lahore recorded 214 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours up to 8am local time on Tuesday, the heaviest in 38 years, Pakistan’s chief meteorologist Muhammad Riaz said.

He said a monsoon system would bring continued heavy rains for the next 24 to 48 hours.