One killed, three injured as rain lashes metropolis
Lightning streaked through the night sky as rain poured over the metropolis on Friday. Commuters navigated through inundat-ed roads and choked arteries as rain water accumulated in different parts of the city. PHOTOS: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS
At least one person was electrocuted to death and three people were injured on Friday as rain lashed the metropolis, inundating low-lying areas and causing logjams on its main arteries. Lightning hit and thunder clapped as the skies burst intermittently and power outages were reported in different areas.
A man was reportedly killed in Chapal Gali, Lighthouse area. Initial findings suggest the man was electrocuted to death after coming into contact with internal electrical wirings as he attempted to cut the wires.
Meanwhile, three people were wounded when a vehicle skidded on Sharae Faisal and smashed into another vehicle, which in turn collided with two others, said the police. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital.
Commuters were stranded for hours on the city’s busiest thoroughfares as downpour continued all day, varying in intensity at different intervals, and rainwater accumulated.
Rainy spell to continue
More rainfall is expected today (Saturday) under the current rain system that originated in the Bay of Bengal, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. According to PMD’s Sardar Sarfraz, moderate to heavy rain was already predicted by his office. “It will continue till Saturday evening,” he said, adding that after the current spell recedes, the city will not witness further rain in coming days.
Inundated roads
Meanwhile, the city administration has put all departments, including the district authorities, the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and hospitals, on high alert.
However, low-lying areas like Korangi, Shah Faisal Colony, North Karachi, North Nazimabad and Gulistan-e-Jauhar remained inundated for hours on Friday. The traffic police updated commuters on social media all day long, alerting them of logjams and open routes, alike.
As of 8pm on Friday, maximum rainfall was recorded in Saadi Town at 41.2mm, University Road at 33mm and North Karachi at 28.2mm.
Danish Rehman, a resident of Saadi Town, told The Express Tribune that though his area had received more rain than other parts of the city, the situation was not as critical as he had witnessed a couple of years ago. “We do not have any danger from even heavy rain. It is Thado Dam that is a threat of flooding in our areas.”
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab claimed that the situation was under control. Teams of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, district municipal corporations and all deputy commissioners were in the field, said Wahab. “We are alert and prepared for the rain predicted by the MET office.” Some low-lying areas are inundated, he conceded. “But our teams are continuously working.”
Wahab added that priority was being given to major roads of the city but it would take some time to pump out rainwater from low-lying areas. “I do not think we will witness urban flooding.”
Lights out
Power outages were reported in several areas of the metropolis as the rain lashed. However, in a statement issued on the day, KE claimed that its teams ensured swift restoration of power supply after disruptions in some areas due to tripping of some feeders. Supply to areas with high incidence of theft and kunda usage was preemptively shut down to ensure the safety of residents and was restored after receiving clearance from KE’s ground teams, it added.
A KE spokesperson said that a probe was also initiated into the unfortunate incident reported in Lighthouse area. “Citizens are advised to continue observing precautionary measures and maintain a safe distance from electricity infrastructure in case of a downpour to avoid any untoward incident.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2021.