The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued an alert regarding urban flooding in Karachi and several other areas in Sindh and Balochistan. It has forecast heavy rains in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Tharparker, Nagarparker, Mirpurkhas, Islam Kot, Umar Kot, Sanghar, Sukkur and Larkana from Monday to Wednesday. Rain/thundershowers are also expected in Lasbella, Khuzdar, Awaran, Barkhan, Zhob, Musa Khel, Loralai, Kohlu and Sibbi during Monday and Tuesday, according to the PMD. “Heavy rainfall may generate urban flooding/water logging in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin from Monday to Tuesday,” the Met Office said in its advisory. It may also generate “flash flooding in hill torrents of Kalat, Khuzdar and Lasbella during the period”. This is the sixth and more powerful spell of monsoon rains that has hit southern parts of the country, according to the PMD. It asked authorities in Sindh and Balochistan to remain alert. Parts of Karachi received light showers Monday evening as well. Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Malir, Landhi, Airport, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and adjacent areas received the showers coupled with gusty winds. The Met Office has predicted heavy rain in the city starting midnight. Many areas in Karachi may receive up to 70mm rain. Meanwhile, he city’s low-lying areas remained flooded for a fourth staright day after the fifth spell of rain had earlier forced more than 200 families in Surjani Town to be relocated. Water remained accumulated in Yousuf Goth, Bismillah Town, Sector 4B and C causing trouble for residents. As residents made efforts on their own to drain out water from their houses, the Pakistan Army also came to their rescue with dewatering pumps, boats and trucks to relocate people. In other areas of the city such as KDA Chowrangi, Sakhi Hassan Chowrangi, and Federal B Area, rainwater could not be drained as residents remained stuck in their homes. Storm drains in AllahwaliChowrangi in New Karachi overflowed all the way to the Sindhi Hotel area, entering homes and shops.
