The second consecutive day of rain in Karachi brought with it problems for city dwellers, as water flooded roads and power was disrupted in large parts of the city.

Four more die, others injured in rain-related incidents

Four more people, including an eight-year-old child, died in rain-related incidents in the metropolis on Saturday, bringing death toll to eight, since Friday afternoon when moderate to heavy and intermittent rain lashed the provincial capital.

A young man died of electrocution in Azizabad area, as 11000 volt cable fell in accumulated rain-water, said police. Haris Yamin Memon, 28, was passing through Azad Ground in Bantwa Nagar, Block-3 of FB Area when he suffered an electricity shock and died. Another 28-year-old Nawaz Khan died of electrocution in Shadman Town, said officials at Taimuria police station. In a separate incident, Hasnain, 8, died due to electric shock in City Railway Colony, said rescue sources. Jamal, 30, died of electrocution in Lines Area and his body was brought to the Jinnah-Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Dr. Seemin Jamali, Executive Director of JPMC told Dawn.

Four people, including a minor, were also injured as the roof on an under-construction house collapsed in Shirin Jinnah Colony, reported DawnNews.

Traffic congestion

Traffic on roads leading to Nazimabad from Guru Mandir moved at a snail's pace as rainwater gathered on roads, compounding traffic movement problems especially in areas where the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit system is currently under construction.

Water build-up was also reported in the Tower, Hyderi, Malir, Kareemabad and Defence Phase VI areas.

DSPs and SHOs to be on roads, coordinate with traffic police

Meanwhile, Karachi police chief, Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar directed all zonal Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to direct their Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and Station House Officers (SHOs) to be on main roads, coordinate with traffic police and local administration to help the general public who were facing a lot of problems due to heavy rainfall, which caused heavy traffic congestion.

The DSPs and SHOs were also directed to make close coordination with local administration and monitor the situation of localities nearby water drains and water reservoir in the areas of their responsibility.

Power outages

As many as 20 K-Electric feeders had tripped as soon as the city received rain, DawnNews reported.

In a tweet on their official page, K-Electric later claimed that most of these feeders had been brought back online and that "KE teams continue to work non-stop to ensure complete normalisation across the city".

However, residents from parts of Nazimabad, Gulistan-i-Johar, DHA Phase I, Phase II extension and Phase IV, Site, Garden West, Lyari, Malir and Baldia Town said Saturday afternoon that electricity had yet to be restored in their regions.

Ride-hailing services disrupted

Although popular ride-sharing service Careem on its Facebook page carried a message inviting patrons to " Seize this beautiful day with Careem", comments underneath the post revealed that many users had difficulties finding rides nearby.

People who did find a ride claimed that they had to wait for as long as an hour for the car to reach them.

Uber users also claimed that no cars were available in most areas and a multiple of at least 2x was applied to fares in areas where a ride could be hailed.

Temperature drops

The maximum temperature recorded in the city on Thursday had been 26 degrees Celsius, which dropped to 23 degrees Celsius on Friday. The minimum temperature too had dropped down to 10 degrees Celsius before the weekend.

According to the statistics of MET, PAF Masroor received 41 millimetre (mm) rain on Saturday, PAF Faisal 27mm, North Nazimabad 25mm, Model Observatory 19mm, Airport 13, Landhi 08 and Gulshane Hadid 07mm.

The Karachi Development Authority and District Municipal Corporation-South have announced a state of emergency in their respective areas.

Mayor visits various areas of Karachi

Meanwhile, Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar visited various areas of the city, said a press release. According to the handout, he said defective sewerage system, encroachments on drains and absence of storm water drainage are big challenges for the city, for which the provincial government should cooperate with them.

Akhtar said that permanent measures were required to solve the problem of accumulation of rainwater on main roads and its drainage.

“Drainage of rain water will take some time, however municipal bodies are carrying out the process as soon as possible," he said.

An earlier version of this story understated the amount of rainfall received in different areas. The error is regretted.