Monsoons hit Karachi with a vengeance : 11 dead

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1355132/1...tinue-to-lash-karachi-parts-of-city-submerged

At least 11 people have been killed so far, mostly from electrocution, in Karachi as monsoon rains continued to lash the city on Thursday, Edhi officials told DawnNews.

Commuters faced difficulties reaching offices while majority of schools remained closed as the rain, which started late Wednesday night, flooded roads of the metropolis.

Many areas in the city — including North Nazimabad, North Karachi, Orangi, Malir, Drigh Road, and NIPA — are submerged because of the heavy rains while some bridges have turned into virtual swimming pools. Most rain in the city has been recorded in North Karachi at 97 millimeters, DawnNews reported.

Gujjar Nala area, where the city government launched an operation to remove illegal construction last year, is also submerged in water, according to DawnNews.

Torrential monsoon rains lashing the city since Wednesday evening are expected to continue for three days in various parts of Sindh, according to the Met Department.

Earlier on Monday, Mayor Wasim Akhtar had directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s staff to remain alert and ready with all required equipment and machinery to tackle heavy rains.

He had announced that in case of any emergency, people could call the KMC’s rain emergency centres on these numbers: 0332-2685090, 0335-7553976 and 1339 .

According to Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC), 80 out of 1,600 feeders were affected up until noon. "Some feeders have been switched off in view of safety concerns in areas with waterlogging, and restoration work will be expedited in affected areas as soon as standing water is wiped out," read a notice issued by KESC.

Customers can register queries/complaints on 118 or 99000, and through KESC’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Windstorms and rains are expected to lash scattered places in Sindh (Sukkur, Larkana and Shaheed Benazir-abad, etc) and Punjab (Lahore, Gujran*wala, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawal*pur and Dera Ghazi Khan, etc), besides parts of Balochistan and upper parts of the country — Hazara, Pesha*war, Malakand and Sargodha divisions, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

Following days-long downpours in neighboring India that especially caused havoc in Mumbai, a well-marked low pressure system in the neighbouring country sent out very strong moisture currents which generated widespread rain in lower Sindh, scattered areas of Punjab and upper parts of the country on Wednesday.

The Sindh government had issued a weather warning on Tuesday, anticipating heavy rains, in which it directed all district disaster management authorities, commissioners and deputy commissioners to ensure that all precautionary measures are taken to avoid any untoward situation as well adopt an effective response mechanism, including issuing an early warning for flash floods.

The direction, through a "most urgent" letter, was issued in connection with a weather warning issued by the Met Department.

"A strong monsoon weather system from India is heading towards Sindh and is likely to enter south-east Sindh on Tuesday evening. Under its influence rain/thundershowers with a number of moderate to heavy and few very heavy falls with strong gusty winds may occur Sindh particularly in lower divisions in Sindh, including Karachi from August 30 to September 1. Heavy falls may generate urban flooding in vulnerable areas of lower Sindh," read the warning.

 

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A day after raging downpours wreaked havoc in Karachi, the civil administration, with the help of the Pakistan Army and paramilitary soldiers, have managed to clear many areas of the metropolis affected by torrential rains.

However, there were light showers in some parts of the city on Friday too including Federal B Area, North Nazimabad, North Karachi and Paposh Nagar and more rain is expected on Saturday and Sunday, the first and second days of Eidul Azha.

Overall, 135mm rainfall has been recorded across the metropolis in the last two days, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said.
Despite the efforts to drain the water, some areas in the city are still submerged and motorists are stuck in massive traffic jams on Rashid Minhas Road and other major thoroughfares.

The roads and streets of the North Nazimabad and Lyari neighbourhoods remain inundated and rainwater has started flooding homes in Surjani Town.

Besides, the market for Eid’s sacrificial animals near Super Highway has also been badly affected by the downpour.

“Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers Sindh teams with de-watering equipment are busy round the clock to assist civil administration in clearing of areas affected by rain,” military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

Delving into the details of the progress, it said Liaqatabad No 10, Gharibabad underpass, Kabili Town Block 5, Petrol Pump Chorangi, Nauras Chorangi, Old Golimar Chorangi, Nagin Chowrangi and Power House Chorangi areas were cleared.

The communiqué further said the Aurangi and Gujjar Nullah were being regulated while de-watering was in progress at Ayesha Manzil, Nazimabad Underpass, Golimar Chorangi, North Karachi UC 13, Landikotal and Saadi Town areas.

As monsoon rains continued to lash the city on Thursday, the Karachi administration requested the Pakistan Army’s assistance to conduct rescue and relief activities in the city. The army extended its full assistance and water extraction pumps were immediately dispatched.

The rain spell or, as the authorities might prefer, unexpected rain spell that started Wednesday and continued on Thursday has washed away Karachi, exposing the false claims of the municipal bodies’ efficiency by the Sindh government.
Horrifying scenes have been witnessed across the city, where cars, motorcycles, animals and bodies have been seen swimming in the water that has flooded the streets and, instead of rectifying the issues and rescuing people and their belongings, the provincial and local governments are exchanging barbs and passing the buck.

Around a dozen people and many sacrificial animals have been killed across the city during rain-related incidents since the start of fresh monsoon spell. The casualties were reported in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Lyari, New Karachi, Gabol Town and other localities.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/149665...-rainwater-de-watering-continues-others-ispr/