KARACHI: 191mm rain in two days leaves city in shambles
By Bhagwandas
KARACHI, Aug 11: The two-day spell of rain, during which the city received an estimated 191mm of rainfall, has left entire localities and many roads submerged while in some cases, water has entered residents’ homes.
Responding to Dawn’s queries, officials at the met department said that although the strong monsoon weather system had weakened, isolated rain is still likely in lower Sindh, including Karachi, during the next 24 hours.
In many areas, inefficient drainage systems could not cope with the monsoon rains despite civic agencies’ claims during the past months that the city’s drainage system had been revamped. Their inefficiency was reflected in numerous inundated thoroughfares, flooded underpasses and overflowing drains.
M.A. Jinnah Road near the old KMC Building and the City Courts was inundated while the nearby Lewis Road was also submerged. Many roads on Saddar, the main business centre of the city, remained under knee-deep water, causing great difficulties to commuters and traders.
The Gujjar Nullah burst its banks and water flowed into many of the houses in the nearby katchi abadis, damaging the household goods of people who are already poor. Streets and thoroughfares were inundated in Aram Bagh, Ranchore Lines, Kharadar and Mithadar.
According to officials of the met department, Friday’s strong monsoon weather system over Sindh has weakened but a fresh westerly wave is likely to affect the upper parts of the country during next 24-36 hours. They said that isolated thunderstorms and rain may occur over lower Sindh, including Karachi, during the next 24 hours.
