The downpour on Friday brought relief the people from extreme hot spell and also exposed the performance of the civic bodies about rain preparedness.
Despite early warning of Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC), Water and Sewerage Agency (WASA), and Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) could not avoid stagnation of rainwater.
Moreover, the electricity system was disrupted throughout the city with the first drop of the rain.
Feeders tripped, electricity poles fell and wires snapped at various places, however, no casualty was reported.
Few hours of downpour caused rainwater to accumulate in low-lying areas, major roads and intersections causing problems for commuters.
The roads destroyed by last year's rains became more dangerous for traffic.
The city was overcast since early morning and by 3:30pm a dust storm came which lasted for about ten minutes. The dust storm was followed by heavy rain with thunder. Heavy to light showers continued for half an hour.
Due to lack of sanitation arrangements in densely populated areas of city and on main roads, accumulated garbage was floating in roads and streets along with rainwater for several days. Situation became more serious due to overflowing of rain drains passing through several areas of the city including Latifabad Unit No. 12, Unit No. 11, Pond No. 3, Goshala, Liaquat Colony and other areas.
A power breakdown instantly followed the precipitation and it took at least three hours to Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) to restore the supply.
A spokesperson from HESCO Sadiq Kubar said that 60 electric feeders in Hyderabad and 180 in other districts of the division were shut down mostly for safety reasons. Many feeders had tripped due to dust storm, he added.
Meanwhile, HESCO has urged people to stay away from electricity installations during rain.
Spokesperson for the company advised the public to stay away from electric poles, wires, and other installations during rain, as wet conditions increase the risk of electrocution.
The spokesperson further warned people not to tie up livestock with utility poles.
HESCO Chief Executive Officer Muzaffar Ali Abbasi has instructed field officers and employees to inform consumers and the public about the potential risks of approaching electricity installations during rain and urge them to stay away from power poles or wires, as they too can be at risk of electrocution.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2023.
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