Inundated roads continue to plague commuters

Korangi Crossing, Causeway remain blocked three days after rain in the city

KARACHI: Commuters faced difficulty on Monday as the Korangi Crossing and Korangi Causeway were blocked because of the flash flood in Malir River during the rain. On Wednesday morning, as the water in Malir River receeded, directives were issued on the Traffic Police's WhatsApp group to open the roads for traffic. The decision was, however, retracted shortly after.

Given the reduced flow of water, citizens attempted to cross both roads in the absence of traffic police. Several vehicles broke down as the roads remained inundated. A traffic jam occurred at Korangi Crossing, Expressway, Qayyumabad Chowrangi, Jam Sadiq Bridge, Brookes Chowrangi, Chamra Chowrangi and in other surrounding areas as both these roads remained blocked. Long queues of vehicles formed with commuters stuck in traffic for hours.

Angry citizens said that this was the third consecutive day that they had to face such terrible traffic jams during their daily commute from home to work. Even if the traffic clears, they are forced to make their way across roads inundated with water.

After the traffic jam occurred, Traffic DIG Javed Ali Maher and other police officials reached Korangi Industrial Area. Korangi SSP Ali Raza also arrived with his police party. According to Raza, one of the reasons behind the traffic jam was a broken-down trailer truck at Jam Sadiq Bridge. Now, that hurdle has been removed, said Raza.

Korangi Crossing and Korangi Causeway remain closed for traffic to avoid any accidents, he said, adding that police and traffic police would be deployed at Brooks Chowrangi till the evening as peak traffic hours begin after 4pm. The SSP appealed to the citizens to avoid driving the wrong way and cooperate with the traffic police. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2019.