Water crisis leaves Karachi parched

Main pipeline damaged during Red Line construction on University Road

KARACHI:

Many neighbourhoods of the metropolitan city have been left parched amid a grueling water crisis triggered by damage to its water infrastructure at various locations. In an attempt to ease public pressure, the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) has claimed that water supplies would soon be restored in all affected areas.

The metropolis is currently grappling with a severe water crisis which has been further exasperated by hot weather. Several neighbourhoods have received no water supply for the past four days due to the damage to the main pipeline during the construction work on the Red Line project on University Road.

The affected neighbourhoods include Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, PIB Colony, Liaquatabad, Ranchore Line, Old City Area, Saddar, Korangi, Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony, and Malir.

The KWSC started repairs that were supposed to be completed by Thursday evening, but in the meanwhile water started leaking from a pipeline in Old Sabzi Mandi. Millions of gallons of water spilled on the road, resulting in its wastage and disrupting the traffic flow on the busy road as well.

"Our staff has repaired the damaged pipelines and changed the valves at three locations, while work is in progress at the fourth site," a KWSC spokesperson told The Express Tribune. "We have also plugged two ruptures in the major pipeline near University Road, which had occurred during the construction work on the Red Line project," he added.

Meanwhile, water inflow in Keenjhar Lake from the Indus River has increased. Repair work has been ongoing non-stop for the past two days at all the locations. The spokesperson assured that supplies would soon be restored to all areas.

The spokesperson to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) claimed that water supply in the city has returned to normal after a four-day suspension caused by the burst of a major supply line. According to the spokesperson, water supply has resumed and the situation is returning to normal after the completion of the repair work.

A main line was burst due to the development work of the Red Line project on University Road near Old Sabzi Mandi, KWSC officials said.

They said that repair work was expeditiously undertaken at the site and completed on Friday, following which the water supply has resumed. However, it takes 24-28 hours to completely restore the supply.