KARACHI, March 11: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has declared emergency and directed all city government departments, town and union council administrations to remain vigilant and efficient to cope with problems due to the Sunday’s downpour in the metropolis.

He asked officials of KWSB, Municipal Services, Health, Works and Services Department, Fire Brigade and Parks to reach their respective offices and visit city areas to review the situation and take necessary steps to remove accumulated water.

Mr Kamal told Dawn that the emergency in the departments of the city government would remain enforced till complete drainage of water accumulated on roads. For this, he added, the staff concerned would work round-the-clock.

He asked people to lodge their complaints on the centralised helpline 134. He said emergency centres in all 18 towns were operational and would work round-the-clock.

He also contacted town nazims and assured them that the extra machinery and staff would be provided if necessary at any place.

The nazim along with KWSB Managing Director Brig Iftikhar Haider, EDO (Municipal Services) Masood Alam, EDO (Works and Services) Amanullah Chachar, Tameer-i-Karachi Programme Director Rauf Akhter Farooqi and other officials visited different areas to review the situation.

They also visited low-lying areas along Lyari River and Malir River, Mehmoodabad, Manzoor Colony, Landhi, Korangi, Clifton, Saddar, Jamshed Town, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Shah Faisal, Malir, Liaquatabad, North Karachi, Baldia, SITE, Orangi and New Karachi. The nazim issued directives to the official concerned to take necessary measures to remove stagnant water.

However, he made it clear that despite the heavy rain, the situation on ground remained under control. He said the rainwater was not accumulated especially on those roads which had been completed during the last one year due to installation of storm water drainage system.

He said now there was no need of calling fire brigade department’s vehicles to remove rainwater from these roads.