Major water crisis feared after power breakdown

Over 150 water pumping stations suspend their routine supply to respective areas soon after the electricity breakdown

KARACHI: Water supply to most parts of the city was disrupted after the major power breakdown on Tuesday night, soon after the port city received its first monsoon shower.

According to officials of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), over 150 water pumping stations suspended their routine supply to respective areas soon after the electricity breakdown. They said more than 20 million gallon water was not supplied in the last two days due to constant interruptions in power supply.

Some of the worst-hit areas due to the suspension of potable water supply on Tuesday were Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Malir, Korangi, North Karachi, New Karachi, Sarjani Town, Buffer Zone, Baldia Town, Orangi Town, PIB Colony, Liaquatabad, Manzoor Colony, Mehmoodabad, PECHS and other adjacent localities.

The KWSB management said that it would take 24 more hours to overcome the situation. It has advised citizens to conserve water.

On Saturday, water supply was disrupted to major parts of the city as a 72-inch pipeline at Dhabeji pumping station stopped supply to around 70 per cent of Karachi's population. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2019.