Same old story
It was, therefore, not much of a surprise that even upscale localities of Karachi were submerged, with rainwater making way into the houses and reaching as far as living rooms and bedrooms, damaging everything inside. Much of the city, as ever, went without electricity with the first drop of rain, and the supply was not restored even after 12 to 15 hours in several areas. The rain accompanied with strong winds struck the weak and vulnerable power infrastructure, with severed live wires claiming two precious lives. Traffic came to a standstill on main roads and thoroughfares, and motorists remained trapped till late into the night, in some cases. Some of the images playing on TV were, indeed, heart wrenching. One of them showed a young boy and girl, perhaps siblings, struggling to escape an invisible crater layered with accumulating rainwater, but succeeding, fortunately.
The rain and the havoc it plays with the lives of Karachiites every time it comes is a constant reminder of the sheer neglect of a city that serves as the country’s economic engine, and makes a major contribution towards filling up the national kitty. While both federal and provincial authorities need to pay special attention towards improving the civic infrastructure of Karachi, one small step must be taken up as an emergency: the cleaning of the stormwater drains. Chockfull of waste, these drains fail to absorb the cloudburst and are, therefore, the main culprits. The citizens of Karachi, meanwhile, wait for the day the rain will truly be a blessing for them.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2020.
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