Hyd reels under torrential rains, power outages

Hyderabad received moderate to heavy downpours for the third consecutive day on Thursday, marking the highest cumulative rainfall of this year's monsoon spell so far. Several districts in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah and Sukkur divisions also experienced rain.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded 67 millimetres of rainfall in Tandojam, 36mm in city and 32mm at Airport till 5:30 pm. Evening showers, accompanied by winds of up to 70 km per hour, were measured at 42mm at Airport and 38mm in city. Upto 30 mm rainfall was recorded in Tharparkar, 24 mm in Thatta and Badin, 12 mm in Mirpurkhas and seven mm in Noushehro Feeoze districts. However, the downpour continued through the night in many parts of Sindh.

The heavy precipitation triggered flash floods, submerging several roads and neighbourhoods under ankle-deep water. For a third straight day, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) suspended power supply across large parts of the city, citing safety concerns and technical faults. On Wednesday evening, HESCO spokesman Sadiq Kubar disclosed that 133 feeders of 11KV had been shut down while only 21 were left operational. The company did not share Thursday's figures, but widespread citizen complaints suggested the situation remained unchanged.

President Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry, Muhammad Saleem Memon, deplored that rains, often seen as a blessing in developed countries, only brought misery in Pakistan due to poor governance.

He said that had Hyderabad Water and Sewerage Corporation's pumping stations been kept functional and its staff worked with dedication, urban flooding could have been reduced. Similarly, upgrading HESCO's outdated infrastructure could help avoid feeder tripping, collapse of poles and wires, and prolonged outages.

Memon lamented that small traders faced a double blow as rainwater entered their shops and warehouses, while extended power cuts further aggravated their losses.