Karachi inundated as monsoon ‘preparations’ fail

Many areas were flooded as the Gujjar Nullah overflowed and rainwater accumulated on roads

KARACHI: Despite tall claims, the city administration failed to control the post-rain situation, as most parts of Karachi were flooded with rainwater on Thursday.

A few days ago, all the municipal authorities, including district municipal corporations (DMCs), the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and cantonments boards, claimed they were fully prepared to deal with any rain-related emergencies, however, after the rain began on Wednesday evening, the truth came out.

Gujjar Nullah

Like last year, the Gujjar Nullah has once again created problems for the residents of Federal B Area and North Nazimabad. According to Hussain Jalaluddin, a resident of North Nazimabad’s Block N, he has been living in the area for the past 30 years and for past several years, due to heavy encroachments, the nullah has overflowed every year during the rain.

North Nazimabad can be counted as one of the city’s areas that have better planning and adequate urban design, with huge storm water drains constructed alongside main thoroughfares. Jalaluddin was of the view that North Nazimabad is can be counted among those areas with better planning and good urban design with huge rain water drains alongside the main thoroughfares, such as Allama Rashid Turabi Road and near Peoples Chowrangi.



He explained that these drains proved to be essential for the flow of water, however, for the past several years, the drains were clogged with solid waste, causing water to overflow onto the streets.

The city's streets were flooded on Thursday after two days of sporadic rain. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS

He recalled how in the past municipal authorities used to clean the drains before the rain but now they have no hope, as the provincial and local governments both try to pin the blame on each other.

This year the Gujajr Nullah was so filled with garbage that one can easily walk on it, Jalaluddin added.

North Nazimabad is not the only area affected by the Gujjar Nullah overflowing; several block of Federal B Area were affected as most of the residential streets of the area’s blocks 5, 11, 12, 13, 17 and 19 were inundated with water. Several cars were also stuck in accumulated rainwater near Ayesha Manzil and the water pump flyover.

DMC Central Chairperson Rehan Hashmi admitted that the condition of Gujjar Nullah was not adequate enough to withstand the rain. He added that this was because of ill planning, as every year work on the nullahs is left in limbo and people suffer because of these policies.



He added just to satisfy media, encroachments were removed and plans to construct the road were shared, however, work to remove encroachments came to a halt after the monsoon last year. Hashmi said that for now they have deployed heavy machinery on the Gujjar Nullah and things will be under control in several hours. They have sent out machinery to pump out water on streets in the district, he said.

Another drain in District Central that overflowed last year is in Shadman 14/A. Even though the situation on Wednesday night was precarious, it did not overflow.

The main thoroughfare in North Nazimabad, stretching from Surjani Town, where the Green Line Bus Rapid Transport system is being constructed, was also inundated. According to a resident of the area, Shahrukh Ahsan, until morning the road was clear, but as soon as the rain began again everything turned into a mess. There are several choking points near Five Star Chowrangi, Sakhi Hasan and KDA Chowrangi, where it is difficult for cars and motorcycles to pass through.

Inundated roads

Several other areas of the city faced emergency situations after rainwater drains overflowed. The newly constructed section of University Road remained clear, however, one of its portions under the NIPA flyover was inundated with water and not even the footpath was visible. DMC East Chairperson Moeed Anwar said they are working to clear the roadside drain at NIPA, as there is garbage stuck in it.

Though some residents enjoyed the flooding, most were angry at the civic authorities' lack of preparations. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS

Not only NIPA, but Jauhar Chowrangi and University Road near NED University were also flooded due to construction work but Anwar claimed that the water would be removed soon.

He blamed the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) for not clearing out drain engulfed with garbage and creating the mess.

A resident of University Road, Jasim Rizvi, said that surprisingly the thoroughfare was clear. He mentioned that it is good that the municipal authorities can be seen working and clearing these roads, however, preparation could have save the government and citizens a lot of trouble. The recently constructed Tariq Road was also clear of rainwater.

Senior KMC Director Masood Alam said that wherever there is water it is just because of the solid waste and garbage stuck in drains, therefore with limited machinery and resources it will take time to control things. On the other hand Dr AD Sajnani, the managing director of SSWMB, said his teams are working in two districts - South and East - and it is due to his department’s work that the situation is better than last year.



The situation in Defence Housing Authority and Clifton was under control until Thursday evening. Khayaban-e-Shahbaz and Khayaban-e-Bahria were engulfed with rainwater but the water was promptly removed by Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) staff. A resident of the area, Khawaja Abbas, said that ever since the drains were installed by the CBC, the situation remained stable by and large, but there were some points where water accumulated.

Many under construction roads and underpasses were flooded due to accumulated rainwater and poor drainage. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS

CBC sanitary inspector Amir Azeem shared that wherever there was water, machineries and staff were sent immediately and staff are to remain on standby until the rain stops.

The DMC South chairperson was not available for comments.

After the second spell of rain on Thursday water also accumulated in old city areas, Malir, Korangi, Lyari and Orangi Town.

Official version

Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) Managing Director Hashim Raza Zaidi said that though there were power outages, with the support of generators all the sewerage pumping stations are working.



He added that he has asked water board staff to work in three different shifts in order work efficiently in this emergency situation.

Zaidi pointed out that the due to load-shedding at the Pipri and Dhabeji pumping stations, 15 million gallons of water was not supplied to the city.

Casualties

One man who has yet to be identified was electrocuted to death at Qalandria Chowk in Sakhi Hassan area. Earlier in the day, a minor boy was electrocuted in Paposh Nagar in Nazimabad. He was wounded and admitted to the hospital.