Observer Report
At least five people, including two children, died in rain-related incidents on Sunday as the third monsoon spell of the season wreaked havoc in Karachi, flooding low-lying areas, inundating roads and causing power outages.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall in several districts of Sindh today and tomorrow (July 27).
Data from the Met department showed that Karachi received a maximum 86.2mm of rain at Gulshan-i-Hadeed, Karachi MOS (49.6mm), PAF Masroor Base (23mm), PAF Faisal Base (49.2mm), North Karachi (61.9mm), Nazimabad (28mm), Saddar (51mm), Landhi (23mm), University Road (80.8mm) Jinnah Terminal (58mm), Kemari (50.8mm) and Surjani (72.7mm).
The rain which started Sunday afternoon brought city life to a standstill. Rainwater inundated most parts of the city roads, which is causing problems for the masses. Two youth were electrocuted to death in Gulshan-e-Hadeed and Landhi.
Nipa Chowrangi, Gurumandir Chowrangi, Shahrai-e-Faisal, Hassan Square are showing view of pond. Several four-wheels and motorbikes can be seen on the roads.
The parts of Karachi which received heavy to moderate rain include Malir, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, PECHS Society, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Kathor, Surjani Town, Bahadurabad, Super Highway Cattle Market, Shahra-e-Faisal and other parts of the city.
Multiple areas of the port city are undergoing power outages as over 550 K-Electric (KE) feeders tripped after a third spell of monsoon rains wreaked havoc in the city.
The MET Office last week had forecast a third spell of monsoon in Karachi with heavy rain and thunderstorm in the port city between July 26 and July 27.
Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, FB Area, Liaquatabad, PIB Colony, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Korangi and Old City Area were reported to be without power as the rain started.
KE said it would restore power as soon as it was safe to do so. A spokesperson for the power supplier said electricity supply of low-lying areas and those with kundas had been suspended.
“We urge government departments to work as quickly as possible to drain the water out of these areas,” the spokesperson said.
Separately, a rain emergency has been declared at the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) on the orders of Provincial Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, a KWSB spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said de-watering pumps have been deployed in low-lying areas and roads with the Board’s complain centre to register complaints all night.
