Rain fails to dampen Eid spirit

Braving the midday storm, Karachiites rushed to buy sacrificial animals, forcing the traders to sell at extreme discounts, while many headed to the electronics markets to pick up deep freezers for keeping the meat of sacrificial animals.

Unfazed by heavy downpour, the bustling city continued with its trend of last minute shopping resulting in many people getting caught in traffic jams.

Pakistan Army jawans were most conspicuous performing rescue services and dewatering operation at some inundated localities, besides Rangers and civic authorities.

Heavy spell of monsoon system on Saturday caused urban flooding situation in parts of Saddar, Old City Area and the Defence Housing Authority (DHA). The heaviest rainfall was recorded at PAF Base Masroor at 56 mm.

Intensity of the monsoon system, which has been causing moderate to heavy rains for several days, has decreased to some extent. Moderate showers and thunderstorms are expected in the city today (Sunday). Meanwhile, a new series of monsoon rains is forecasted to enter Sindh from Central India on July 13.

The intensity of the monsoon rains which entered Sindh from Rajasthan, India and the Bay of Bengal continued for the seventh day. On Saturday, the system brought heavy rains in the city's coastal areas as well as in the Old City area, resulting in urban flooding in several places including DHA's Khayaban Shahbaz Commercial, Sunset Boulevard, Khayaban Sehar, Khayaban Nishat, Phases 4, 5 and 6, Submarine Underpass, PIDC, Khaliq-ul-Zaman Road, MA Jinnah Road, II Chundrigar Road and Light House. Urban flood situation prevailed in several parts of the city including Kala Pul, Abdullah Haroon Road, Saddar Empress Market, Nishtar Road, Saddar GPO, Sher Shah Colony and Kemari.

According to the Meteorological Department, 56 mm of rain was recorded at PAF base Masroor. DHA Phase II recorded 38.2 mm of rainfall, Kemari 13.4 mm, Orangi 2.8 mm, Nazimabad 2.7 mm, PAF Base Faisal 2.5 mm, Jinnah Terminal 1.6 mm, Old Airport 1.1 mm and Gulshan-e-Hadeed recorded 1 mm pf rain.

According to Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz, the monsoon system is currently present at sea in the southeast and east. However, the rains are expected to ease to some extent as compared to the previous days. Today, on the evening of the first day of Eid, there may be light rain in the city. Light rain and showers are also expected on the second and third days of Eid-ul-Adha. Meanwhile, another monsoon system will enter from Central India on July 13, the forecasts for which would better be made in a few days.

According to the Early Warning Center of the Met Office, monsoon is continuing in Sindh due to which heavy rains fell in Karachi last evening. Nawabshah, Nowshero Feroz, Sanghar, Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Kashmore, Tharparkar and Mirpur Khas are likely to receive thundershowers for the next few days. Due to these continuous rains, water may accumulate in low lying areas of Karachi, Badin, Thatta, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan and Umerkot. Karachi is expected to be overcast and light rain is expected today. Heavy rains lashed Clifton, Kemari, Korangi, DHA and Saddar on Saturday. Clifton received 91.6 mm of rainfall, while Kemari received 83.4 mm and Saddar 88 mm.

CBC, DHA teams on ground

The Clifton Cantonment Board (CBC) and the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) teams were present in rain affected areas, vigorously working to clear clogged roads and streets.

According to a spokesperson for DHA, the monsoon rains hit particularly hard in DHA and Clifton due to which drains were overwhelmed and water accumulated in different areas. Teams from the DHA and CBC are constantly on the lookout for affected areas after the monsoon rains, he said, adding that activities for de-watering, repair and recovery is underway in the rain-affected areas.

According to the DHA spokesperson, an organized rain management organization has already been set up for monsoon rains. Currently, 13 teams from DHA and 60 teams from Cantonment Board Clifton are mobilized to control the situation while four relief camps have also been set up in DHA schools and colleges in case of any emergency. In addition, Helpline 1092 has been provided to the residents in case of emergency. The situation of urban flooding will be cleared soon after the rains, the DHA spokesperson said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2022.