City's water woes boil over

With taps running dry, tanker prices soaring and frustration spilling onto the streets, Karachi is once again grappling with a crippling water crisis that has left vast swathes of the city scrambling for every drop. Despite emergency directives from Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and repeated assurances from water authorities, repeated pipeline ruptures and power breakdowns have pushed the metropolis deeper into chaos just days before Eidul Azha, reviving troubling questions about the reliability of the city's fragile water infrastructure.

The crisis intensified after another rupture in the city's troubled 72-inch Line No 5 at the Dhabeji pumping station, reportedly caused by an electrical surge and power breakdown. The latest failure, coupled with disruptions at the North East Karachi (NEK) pumping station, severely affected water supply to multiple neighbourhoods already facing shortages.

CM Shah directed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) to immediately restore water supply and sought a detailed report on the reasons behind the disruption. He ordered uninterrupted repair work on damaged lines and instructed authorities to keep the public regularly informed about restoration efforts.

He also stressed the need for preventive measures to avoid recurring breakdowns that have become routine in the city, particularly before major holidays.

During a briefing, Water Board CEO Ahmed Ali Siddiqui said a power jerk from K-Electric caused the major pipeline to burst at three locations after two pumps at the Dhabeji station suddenly shut down during the night between May 20 and 21. The abrupt shutdown triggered pressure fluctuations that damaged the line.

He added that ongoing work related to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project had also partially disrupted supply from the FTM line, creating a shortfall of around 48 million gallons per day.

According to the Water Board, repair work has been completed and supply restoration has begun, though full normalisation may still take another 24 to 48 hours. Residents have been urged to use water carefully until supply stabilises.

However, the situation on the ground remains critical in many areas. Water supply through regular pipelines remains suspended in several localities, while tanker operations continue across the city. Citizens say tanker prices have surged sharply as demand rises.

Areas badly affected by the shortage include Korangi, Landhi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Gulberg, PIB Colony, Old City Area, Baldia Town, Mahmoodabad, DHA and Clifton, among others.

Residents questioned why severe water shortages repeatedly emerge before major religious occasions, alleging that pipeline supply often collapses while tanker distribution continues uninterrupted.

The latest rupture has also renewed scrutiny of Line No 5, which has reportedly burst dozens of times in recent years despite repeated repair and reconstruction work.