Chaos rains down on Karachi

KARACHI:

Casualties, prolonged power breakdowns, overflowing drains and inundated streets with bumper-to-bumper traffic - with the forecast of monsoon rains and urban flooding in Karachi, these too were easy to foresee. Yet it appeared the authorities, at least, failed to take adequate steps to address these entirely predictable problems.

Consequently, as the first spell of monsoon rains struck the metropolis on Monday afternoon, the city was swept into chaos - even with barely an hour of rainfall.

Strong dusty winds hit the city at 60 kilometres per hour before the downpour began. The rain continued for about an hour in areas including Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Landhi, Bin Qasim, Malir, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Clifton, Defence Housing Authority, Qayumabad, Bahadurabad, Korangi, University Road, Nazimabad, Shah Faisal Colony and Saddar.

Though mercury had soared past 40 degrees Celsius earlier in the day due to hot winds blowing in from Balochistan and a lull in southwestern winds, the thunderstorm brought the temperature down to a pleasant 29 degrees Celsius.

Power outages

The first smattering of raindrops saw the power supply badly disrupted across the city, with electricity going out for hours in several areas. Korangi, North Nazimabad, North Karachi, Baldia Town, Malir, Bhains Colony, Keamari, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Liaquatabad and the old city areas were among the localities worst hit by power outages.

While sources in K-Electric (KE) claimed the electricity supply was quickly restored in most areas, other neighbourhoods were without power for over eight hours, adding to the misery of citizens who had already been subjected to prolonged load-shedding by the utility company in recent days.

According to sources, over 400 KE feeders tripped, while ruptured cables were also reported in several areas.

KE spokespersons, however, claimed that the power supply was suspended as a precautionary measure, to avoid any loss of life due to electrocution amid the downpour.

Flooded roads

Meanwhile, traffic snarled up on major arteries of the city as water began to stand on the streets, turning short commutes into an ordeal of hours. Ambulances too could be seen trapped in the bumper-to-bumper queues.

Gridlocks quickly emerged at Sharae Faisal, Tipu Sultan Road, Karsaz, Tower, II Chundrigar Road, Five Star Chowrangi, Main Korangi Road, Expressway, Hyderi and Boat Basin, among other areas.

According to a traffic police spokesperson, the flow of vehicles had been slowed down due to water collecting on the roads.

Too little, too late?

For weeks, authorities had been discussing initiatives to clean the city's choked stormwater drains, with a drive to clean out 38 major nullahs being kicked off in the provincial capital last week, just ahead of the looming monsoon season. The campaign, however, launched by Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, is to take 45 days for its completion.

Earlier in the day, Shah claimed that all relevant stakeholders were on the same page in terms of facing the expected rains. "Overcoming the difficult situation during and after rainfall is a tough task for us, but through the combined and coordinated efforts of all district municipal corporations, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), Clifton Cantonment Board and Defence Housing Authority, we will achieve success," he insisted.

According to him, extraordinary measures had been taken to ensure citizens did not face any difficulties during the downpours. He added that KE had been requested to ensure uninterrupted power supply, especially to KWSB pumping station, while municipal staff had been put on alert. He further said the drain cleaning process would continue without delay, dewatering machines would be kept ready and special considerations would be given to sensitive choke-points and underpasses.

Forecast

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) chief meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz said that the rain may continue in intervals in the city until Wednesday, with a likelihood of rain and thunderstorms in different areas today (Tuesday) too.

He added that more spells of rain are expected during the monsoon season, which will extend until September.

The monsoon outlook issued by the PMD suggests that Karachi and other parts of Sindh are likely to witness 20 per cent more rainfall this monsoon season.

As much as 43 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in Saddar on Monday, with 26mm at PAF Base Faisal, 12mm at PAF Base Masroor, 10mm at the old airport, 6mm in Clifton, 3.1mm in Landhi and 1.2mm in Surjani Town.

Deadly downpour

At least eight people were killed and several others injured in separate accidents caused by the first monsoon rain in the metropolis on Monday.

Three men died when the roof of a house collapsed in Baloch Para due to heavy rainfall. The deceased were identified as Babar, 24, Shabbir, 55 and Khadim Hussain, 60.

Meanwhile, four children were injured in a similar accident in Ibrahim Hyderi. They were rushed to the Indus Hospital, where two-month-old Mavia and three-month-old Alishba succumbed to their injuries.

Meanwhile, nine-year-old Omar and seven-year-old Hania were shifted to the National Institute of Child Health.

Three-year-old Alisha and 60-year-old Tajan Bibi were also killed in separate incidents of structural collapse in Shamsi Society and Angara Goth, respectively.

Moreover, a young boy, identified as Muhammad, 7, was electrocuted to death in Orangi Town. His body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

In the meantime, three men were injured when a shelter fell on them in Liaquatabad. Several motorcyclists were also injured in separate traffic accidents due to slippery roads.