Sindh braces for another spell of monsoon rains

Fears of urban flooding in Karachi, other districts of province loom large

KARACHI:

Sindh is likely to brace a new spell of monsoon rains beginning on August 10 amid fears of urban flooding in Karachi and other districts of Sindh. On Saturday, the city's weather remained mostly cloudy with light to moderate rain recorded in some localities.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast, a new weather system has entered Sindh, which is expected to bring light to moderate rains in the province, including Karachi, between August 6 and 9, and thundershowers between August 11 and 13.

On Saturday, light to moderate rain lashed different areas of the city, including PIDC, II Chundrigar Road, Boulton Market, Siemens Chowrangi and Shershah SITE area. The highest rainfall (1.5mm) was recorded in Keamari. At other gauges, installed in the city, the rainfall remained below the minimum scale.

According to the PMD forecast, monsoon winds are entering Sindh which may intensify from August 10.

Karachi is likely to receive thundershowers until August 9. Rural Sindh, including Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Mitiyari, and Thatta, is also expected to receive rain until August 9.

All districts of Sindh and southern districts of Balochistan are also likely to experience an increase in intensity of rains between August 10 and 13. There are fears of heavy currents and urban flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sajawal and Larkana. Incessant heavy rains in Khuzdar, Lasbela, Hub and Kirthar range may create additional pressure on Hub and Thado dams.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2022.