More roads sink under wet conditions

Roads in KDA Chowrangi and Surjani Town obliterated

KARACHI:

The intermittent showers that continued on Monday after the huge cloudburst of Friday have ravaged what little of the city's infrastructure was spared by the earlier spells of monsoon in the teeming metropolis of more than 20 million people.

In some areas, especially in KDA Chowrangi and Surjani Town, roads have literally been obliterated by the toxic sewage water after the clogged sewers collapsed under the pressure of rainwater.

Residents told The Express Tribune that no one came to their help as they were confined to their homes; therefore, they decided to help themselves.

While the roads and streets were inundated by water and sewage and slush from the previous spells, the new weather system dumped more rains in the areas, including KDA, Five Star and Surjani Town, complicating problems for the residents.

The residents said that most of the roads, which were already pockmarked with potholes, have been swept away by the fresh downpour. It is not less than a challenge for motorists and bike-riders alike to travel on these roads.

A few minutes' journey takes hours to complete on the dilapidated roads which also take toll on the vehicles, they told The Express Tribune correspondent who surveyed the areas after the fresh rains.

The broken roads not only affect the flow of traffic but also cause frequent accidents in the areas.

The sewerage system has already collapsed as the residents try to drain out the stinking rainwater through sewers on a self-help basis. A terrible smell permeates Surjani Town as sewage water has entered houses after inundating the roads and streets.

The residents said that they have been confined to their houses due to the inundation of their areas and a lack of proper drainage.

The residents appealed to the relevant government departments to do something because another rain spell would make it impossible to control the situation.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2022.