KARACHI, July 30: Four people were killed in rain-related incidents as the first monsoon downpour hit the city on Sunday.
The midday cloudburst turned the streets of the provincial capital into running streams. Thousands of people waded through the water accumulated on the streets as the rains flooded streets and disrupted road transport network.
The first rainfall of the season exposed the tall claims of the city government that the city’s drainage system had been improved and the rainwater would not accumulate anywhere. People waded through the knee-deep water at various places in the city where the accumulated water did not find a way to move out.
Many cars and motorbikes broke down as the accumulated water entered their engines. The broken down vehicles were seen stationary at many places and their owners were seen looking for mechanics, who fleeced them. A number of motorcyclists were seen pulling away their motorbikes and looking for mechanics.
Owing to the flooded roads and streets by rainwater, the traffic movement was badly affected and the power suspension put off the electronic traffic signals. The traffic moved in a haphazard manner due to which a number of minor accidents took place. The traffic police disappeared and the area’s youths were seen at few places regulating the unruly vehicles’ movement.
Although it was Sunday and commuters were fewer in number, the shortage of public transport on the roads left people stranded at places.
Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Rahim directed the officials concerned to ensure draining of rainwater to save citizens from trouble. He issued these orders during his visit to various localities.
A considerable number of people thronged the beaches including Hawkesbay and Seaview to have fun and enjoy the first monsoon downpour. In the absence of traffic police on the road, youngsters removed the silencers of their motorcycles and roared on the roads leading to the beaches of Clifton and Seaview.
The Met office said that 22mm rain was recorded on an average in its observatories across the city and forecast more rain with thundershower for Monday with the expected temperature rising up to 30 degrees Celsius.
Police and Edhi sources said that two people were swept away in the overflowing Malir river while they were near its bed. A motorcyclist lost his life on the Northern Bypass when his bike skidded on the slippery road and a man was electrocuted near Hotel Mehran when a wire snapped and fell on him on Sharea Faisal.
City Nazim Mustafa Kamal also paid a visit to various areas and issued directives for measures to mitigate the people’s suffering. He witnessed the accumulation of rainwater at the Hasan Square intersection and ordered its early draining. He also visited the underpasses and other development projects.
He noticed that Mehmoodabad and its adjoining areas had been inundated by rainwater causing hardship to residents and road users. He directed the officials concerned to immediately drain out the rainwater using pumps. He said the situation was under control and if it did not rain on Monday, the standing water would be drained out.
TRAINS: Hundreds of passengers had to postpone their journey to upcountry as the Pakistan Railways cancelled its 11 trains after a railway bridge in the interior of Sindh was swept away by the flood as a result of heavy rains.
Passengers staged a protest and ransacked ticket counters at the railway stations here on Sunday after the railway authorities told them to get refund of their ticket money on Monday.
The railway authorities said that 11 trains were cancelled after a railway link broke off near the Ran Pathani railway station, 78 kilometers from Karachi.
KARACHI, July 30: Four people were killed in rain-related incidents as the first monsoon downpour hit the city on Sunday.
