Drop in temperature brings relief to residents of the port city

No likelihood of another heatwave in Karachi this year, experts say

KARACHI: After hitting 46° Celsius a day earlier, which was the highest temperature recorded in Karachi in 2018, mercury relented on Thursday in the port city with the highest temperature recorded at 38.4°C.

However, the heat index remained high as the humidity levels were 65%. The wind blew from the south west with a speed of 13 knots.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department Regional Director Shahid Abbas, the weather will be pleasant and partly cloudy throughout the coming week and the temperature will remain in the range between 34 and 38°C.

According to experts, the heatwave that ended on Thursday was the last one of the year in the city as there are no more chances of heatwaves unless an unexpected cyclonic activity is generated in the sea. The metropolis experienced two spells of heatwave during Ramazan in which mercury fluctuated between 44 and 46°C as the sea breeze went still.



"The weather in Karachi on Eid will also remain in the range of 30 to 40°C and light rains are expected from June 20 onwards," said Abbas. To a query about monsoon rains, he replied they were expected at the end of July or early August.

People bathing in a canal to cool off themselves. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN

Unlike Karachi, temperatures in the rest of Sindh were extremely high on Thursday. The highest temperature in the country was recorded in Jacobabad at 51°C. Likewise, the mercury went as high as 50.8°C in Dadu, 50.5°C in Larkana and 49.5°C in Sukkur.

 

Power situation

Power cuts continued in Karachi on Thursday amidst a high heat index. People had to suffer load-shedding even during sehri and iftar times.

According to citizens, load-shedding is being carried out in the city under the pretexts of technical faults, line losses and increase in electricity demand. Even areas with 100% recovery of power dues are not exempted from power cuts.



K-Electric claims that load-shedding of up to a maximum seven-and-a-half hours is being carried out in some areas of the city. However, the people of Karachi claim otherwise.

The power crisis in the city has also affected water supply. Due to the absence of electricity, people cannot operate suction motors, due to which they are unable to fill their water tanks.

Political and religious parties on Thursday protested outside the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board office on Sharae Faisal against the water shortage in the city.