Karachi struggles to stay afloat

Though the storm had passed, it left a devastated city in its wake on Friday, reeling from the record-breaking downpour the previous day and worried about the prediction of more rainfall.

For the most part of the day, the city remained largely deprived of electricity, potable water and cellular phone and internet services, leaving citizens in shell-shocked even as they tried to deal with their flooded homes.

While several thoroughfares - such as MA Jinnah Road, Sharae Faisal and Sharae Pakistan, which resembled rivers more than roads the previous day - saw the water receding, the rainwater remained on the smaller streets. Low-lying areas in numerous localities remained inundated with filthy, garbage-ridden water after sewers overflowed, while several roads were marred by potholes and cracks.

In some of these areas, including Gulzar-e-Hijri, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Azizabad, Ghareebabad, Liaquatabad, Orangi Town, Surjani Town and others, residents were left with no choice but to leave their homes and find shelter elsewhere.

In others, citizens found themselves stuck at home as water lapped at their doorsteps, without access to food, drinking water or any means of communication even as they worried about predictions of another possible spell of rain.

However, neighbourhoods in the vicinity of Gujjar nullah, which overflowed during the rain and caused flooding in nearby localities, were also cleared of water for the most part, as residents continue to wipe the water out of their inundated houses. They, and many others across the city, lamented the loss of valuables ruined by the downpour and decried that government had provided them no help in this difficult time.

"Karachi has been abandoned," complained Liaquatabad resident Zohaib Iftikhar, echoing the thoughts of many others. "No one cares about the city and it is in ruins."

Others concurred, holding the Sindh government responsible for their misery and terming Karachi's state clear evidence of the authorities' incompetence.

Meanwhile, with power supply not restored in much of the city even over 36 hours after it was cut-off, residents of many areas took to the streets in protest, angered by the situation being worsened by the lack of electricity and subsequent water shortages.

Korangi, Landhi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Malir, Gulistan-e-Johar, Federal B Area, North Karachi, Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, Mehmoodabad, Keamari, Lyari, Azam Basti, Lines Area and several others were affected by the prolonged power outage, with demonstrations erupting in Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Korangi Expressway and Kala Pul, among other areas.

Meanwhile, a K-Electric spokesperson stated that it was an unusual situation, with the city witnessing excessive rain. He said rainwater had collected in substations, causing difficulties in ensuring the uninterrupted supply of power, adding that electricity was being restored in the areas where the water had been cleared.

While the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and Rangers continued relief activities, setting up emergency medical and relief camps across the city, helping evacuate stranded citizens and providing food to those unable to access other facilities, many citizens were left uneasy by the thought of upcoming rain even as they coped with Thursday's traumatic episode.

In Kashmir Colony, residents were fearful of the stormwater drain passing in their midst, after reports of two boys drowning in it. "It is now overtopping, and it appears the water is flowing back rather than going to the said," said Javed Masih.

Fresh monsoon spell

Even as the current spell of monsoon rain drew to an end, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued on Friday an advisory regarding a new monsoon system, expected to enter Sindh on Saturday (today).

Under this system, Karachi and other parts of Sindh are expected to witness heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, which may also trigger flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Thatta and other areas of lower Sindh.

Parts of the city witnessed rainfall on Friday as well, with Gulshan-e-Hadeed recording 84mm of rain. Weather is expected to remain cloudy on Saturday.