KARACHI, July 16: A dust-storm of high intensity, accompanied by rains, hit the city on Wednesday afternoon at a speed of 72-km (40 nautical miles) per hour, uprooting a large number of trees and electric poles, and damaging hoardings and kutcha houses, especially those made of tin-sheets and asbestos.

As it uprooted trees and caused dislocation of dozens of hoardings and as it blew up tin and asbestos sheets of kutcha pucca houses, as many as 100 people suffered injuries in various incidents, and the city district government had to declared a rain emergency.

Flow of traffic was disrupted on various roads and roundabouts where trees fell down and incidents of wire-snapping were also reported which ultimately caused power breakdowns at various water pumping stations, affecting supply to various localities.

Within no times, the winds, coupled with heavily overcast clouds, caused a poor visibility, forcing motorists to switch on headlights of their vehicles.

A spokesman for the city government said that the high magnitude of the storm and rains-related incidents forced the city Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, to declare an emergency in the city government and in its sub-offices.

“Leaves of all the concerned officials have been cancelled to meet any eventuality in the wake of Met office’s forecast of more thunder storms and rains during the next 48 hours,” the official said.

A visit to several city areas showed that unlike last Monday’s rains when most of the main thoroughfares were flooded with rainwater that had also caused heavy traffic jams, Karachiites on Wednesday neither saw much water on roads, nor were there massive jams.

However, traffic hindrances, caused by fallen trees and poles, were subsequently removed.

The rainwater was, however, seen standing on most of those roads where the storm-water drains’ vent covers had been blocked owing to fixation of curve-stones on pavements.

Blockade of storm-water drains’ vent covers can been seen on a number of roads which include North Nazimabad’s main road (from Board Office to Nagan Chowrangi), M A Jinnah Road’s pavements, particularly those situated in the vicinity of Old Exhibition and Gurumandir traffic intersections.

The North Nazimabad’s KDA Chowrangi also submerged with rainwater. The North Nazimabad’s Town’s Nazim Fasihuddin and Naib Nazim, Maqsood Khan, who were supervising the draining out, said that major cause of water on the roundabout was the flow from the hilly area of Pahhar Ganj.

The residents of low-lying areas faced immense difficulties as ankle-deep water was seen on a number of narrow streets.

The rains and the storm also caused power breakdowns at major water installations, affecting supply of water to the city.

The collapse of katcha houses or their roofs made of tin and asbestos sheets played a havoc in Orangi, Baldia, Banaras and adjoining areas.

The Nazim Karachi who visited different parts of the city to see the impact of the storm and rains directed the officials to waste no time in removing the fallen trees and neon sign-boards so as to ensure smooth flow of traffic. He also asked the town and UC Nazims to undertake tour of their respective areas.

The city government has asked the citizens to immediately contact on its Helpline-134 in case of any emergency.