One crisis after another: Dhabeji pipeline develops cracks, city to face water shortage

KARACHI: A 72-inch-wide water pipeline on the Dhabeji pumping station developed cracks on Monday morning resulting in a shortfall of at least 200 million gallons per day (MGD) to the city.

The pipeline developed cracks after an electricity failure at one of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) pumping stations led to the water flowing back.

Following this power outage, the water in the pipeline started flowing back. Since the water pressure was too high, the old pipeline could not sustain it and it developed cracks, according to our correspondent.

The supply of water to the entire city has been stopped. The repeated power outages has caused an unanticipated water crisis in the city.

Yesterday night, K-electric supply company said that due to 99 per cent humidity in Pipri, the 220MW Piri-ICI power line was tripping repeatedly, disrupting supply to 10 out of 64 grids.

The breakdown affected large parts of the city including Malir, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Korangi, Defence, Federal ‘B’ Area, Manzoor Colony, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Clifton, PECHS, Shadman Town among others.

Meanwhile, as a logical consequence to a blackout, 325MGD water was not supplied to Karachi.