Monsoon swamps metropolis

Traffic jams on roads, storm drains overflow, four die of electrocution

KARACHI:

Two systems of monsoon collided above Karachi on Friday wreaking havoc on the city where many areas faced urban flooding, storm drains overflowed and commuters got stuck in traffic jams.

Rescue officials said several vehicles got submerged in the deluge caused by the downpour while the Karachi to Hyderabad Super Highway was closed for traffic due to weather situation.

It was fourth consecutive spell of rain to lash the city plagued with rickety infrastructure.

Bright sunshine on Friday morning gave way to dark clouds emerging from the south east at around 3pm with claps of lightning and booms of thunder dumping more rain on a city facing liquidity of another sort.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the highest rainfall of 102.7 mm was recorded in Gulshan-e-Hadid on Friday from 8am to 11pm.

Old Airport got 53mm of precipitation, Faisal Base 46mm, Jinnah Terminal 38.8mm, University Road 27.

6mm, Quaidabad 25.5mm, Nazimabad 20.4mm, Gadap 15mm, DHA 10.5mm, Saadi Town 9.1mm, PAF Masroor Base 16mm, Keamari 8mm, Surjani Town 7.2mm, Gulshan Maymar 6.6mm, North Karachi received 5.3mm of rain and Orangi Town received 5.1mm of rain.

The rain, which started from Kathor on the outskirts of the city, spread across the metropolis leaving many areas inundated.

Urban flooding was reported from Gulshan-e-Hadid , Hassan Square, Model Colony, Gulshane- Iqbal, Gulberg Town, and many other localities.

The absence of proper drainage system caused rainwater to accumulate on roads to an extent the even footpaths got submerged.

People were seen wading through knee deep water, many took shelter under flyovers to wait for the rain slow down, while dozens of vehicles and motorcycles stalled due to water entering the exhaust pipes of silencers or engines.

According to Chief Meteorologist Karachi Sardar Sarfraz, the current monsoon spell may cause intermittent rains today (Saturday) from noon to evening.

City will get drizzle during this time, however, heavy rains with thunderstorms are not expected, on the first day of Eid.

Malir Causeway closed

With Malir River swelling up, the city administration deployed police and Rangers to stop traffic from heading towards Korangi Causeway.

Meanwhile, Landhi Murtaza Chorangi was submerged due to overflowing Malir River.

Rangers officials have reached the Korangi Causeway to start rescue efforts.

According to the latest situation on Friday, the thoroughfare between Landhi and Malir Memon Goth has been totally inundated compelling administration to close it by erecting barriers.

Pakistan Rangers Sindh, police and the civic authorities were trying their level best utilizing available resources to mitigate the problems of the people in the rain-hit metropolis.

Electrocutions

Four people, including two women, were electrocuted in different parts of the city while two sacrificial animals brought for Eidul Azha also died of electric current.

According to reports, 38-year-old Ruqiya Mobin died due to electric shock in her house in Mansehra Colony area of Landhi on Friday morning while she was busy in usual chores.

Separately, Savera, 26, died of electric shock due to water seeping into wiring of her home in Moach Goth.

In another account, 23-year-old Raqibullah Khan was electrocuted inside his house near a Ijtemah Gah in Manghopir area.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Abdul Rehman was also electrocuted in Garden Market.

On the other hand, two animals brought for sacrifice also died due to electrocution in Lines Area Karachi.

PMD trashes cloudburst news

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has denied news of a cloudburst at Nagan Chowrangi.

PMD has denied that a cloudburst occurred in the Nagan Chowrangi area, saying that if it rains 100mm or more in an hour, it is called a cloudburst.

There is a rain gauge facility in North Karachi where 50 mm of rain was reported when it rained heavily.

Swept away

Flash flood in the Lath Nullah swept away three people in Gadap Town in the early hours of Friday.

One was rescued, while the father and son duo could not be saved.

Body of Liaquat Hussain was recovered by Eidhi volunteers, however, his father Ghulam Hussain remains missing and presumed dead, SSP Malir Irfan Bahadur said.

Meanwhile, the link road was inundated due to Memon Goth Malir Nullah flooding.

As a result, the police closed the link road connecting the National Highway with the Super Highway.

Due to the closure of Link Road, traffic congestion increased, and several vehicles got stuck in the water near the Super Highway Northern Bypass.