'Massive cloudburst dumped unprecedented rain on Karachi's DHA, Clifton'

Private meteorologist claims 245mm of downpour recorded in Karachi's upscale areas

KARACHI:

During the recent record-breaking monsoon rains, Karachi’s upscale areas — Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Clifton — received 245 millimetres (mm) of rain on August 27, according to a private meteorologist.

Due to the unprecedented rainfall, most parts of the metropolis, including its posh neighbourhoods, remained submerged in rainwater, and faced power outages. Many were forced to leave their homes to move to safer places.

Jawad Memon, who runs an unofficial weather station, said 136mm rain per hour rain was recorded in DHA and Clifton due to a cloudburst.

A total of 245mm of downpour was recorded using the weather radar system installed in the upscale areas of the metropolis, he added.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has not installed any rain observatory or weather station in these areas hence, a real-time data of rain could not be compiled from these two localities.

In areas, where the PMD does not have weather equipment installed, private weathermen like Jawad record rainfalls. Jawad claimed to have installed the first weather station in DHA Phase I in 2016, and the second one in Clifton in 2018. He described the latter as the most technologically advanced station.

“It is equipped with about seven extremely powerful sensors, which enable it to record highly authentic rainfall data in millimetres,” he added.

According to official statistics, the highest rainfall of 223mm on August 27 was recorded in the PAF Base Faisal area. However, as per the unofficial data, it was DHA and Clifton that received the highest rainfall - of 245mm.