10 dead as heavy rain piles misery on Karachiites

Saddar, Nazimabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Sohrab Goth, Keamari, Korangi and Landhi plunge into darkness

KARACHI: Several neighbourhooods of the metropolitan city plunged into darkness on Monday night after more than 300 feeders of K-Electric, the private power supplier of the city, tripped following heavy rains and thunderstorm.

According to initial reports, at least 10 people, among them two young siblings, died in rain-related incidents, mainly of electrocution.

A K-Electric spokesperson said that power cables snapped in several neighbourhoods, but staff had been sent there to restore electricity supply as soon as possible.

Most of the fatalities were caused by electrocution. Rameez, 18, died in Rizvia Society, 18-year-old Basma died in Pak Colony, Haris and Mansoor were electrocuted in Garden East area of Soldier Bazaar, while 18-year-old Maryum died of electric shock in North Karachi.

Elsewhere, two young siblings were killed when the roof of their house collapsed in North Karachi, near Disco Morr. Hajra Bibi, 28, and an unidentified man died in similar incidents in Faqir Goth, on Superhighway, and Gulshan-e-Kaneez Fatima areas, respectively.



The areas affected by the power breakdown included Saddar, Nazimabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Sohrab Goth, Keamari, Korangi, and Landhi.

“Rainwater has entered my home. There is no light. K-Electric officials are not attending my calls,” said a resident of Federal B Area.



The heavy rain inundated the main roads and thoroughfares of the city, including MA Jinnah Road, Gurumander Road, Numaish, Jahangir Road, Kashmir Road, Sir Shah Suleman Road, Sher Shah Suri Road.

The swamping of roads created traffic logjams as dozens of vehicles broke down in the middle of the roads at different places.

The rain exposed the tall claims of civic authorities as drains overflowed and rainwater mixed with sewage entered houses in low-lying areas and slums turning them in cesspools.

One of the biggest markets of sacrificial animals in the Sohrab Goth nieghbourhood suffered a major blow as many tents were blown away by gusty winds and heavy rains.

“The sanitation system has collapsed in the city as the storm drains have been encroached upon. How can one expect tangible results,” said Dr Zakir Qaimkhani who lives in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

He added that after the rain the weather turned pleasant, but the heavy downpour piled up misery on citizens as they have been marooned inside their houses.