Rain knocks out power across city

Karachi's first monsoon spell once again exposed the city's fragile power network on Friday, with more than 200 K-Electric feeders affected soon after low to moderate rainfall began across several parts of the metropolis, leaving large swathes of the city without electricity despite the utility's claims that its teams were on high alert.

Power disruptions were reported as feeders, substations and pole-mounted transformers (PMTs) tripped shortly after rain started.

Light to moderate rainfall was recorded in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, FB area, Nazimabad, Jamshed Road and adjoining localities, DHA, Mehmoodabad, Empress Market, Bohri Bazaar, PIB Colony and Jahangir Park, while showers were also reported from other parts of the city.

Electricity supply was suspended in several neighbourhoods, including Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Guru Mandir, Jamshed Road, Naval Colony, Moach Goth, Orangi Town, Federal B Area, North Nazimabad, Sohrab Goth, Scheme 33, Shadman Town, Manghopir, Banaras, Nazimabad and Paposh Nagar, among other localities.

Apart from feeder faults, snapped power lines and damaged PMTs also contributed to outages in several areas.

According to the PMD, strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea are continuously entering Sindh due to a low-pressure system over southwestern Rajasthan. Under the influence of this weather system, Karachi is likely to receive more rain accompanied by thunder and lightning on Saturday (today) and Sunday.

The Met Office said that from July 25 to 27, several districts of Sindh, including Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Jamshoro and Shaheed Benazirabad, are expected to receive rain accompanied by strong winds, dust storms and thunderstorms. Heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated locations.