KARACHI, Dec 28: The water shortage in various parts of the city continued for a second consecutive day on Friday, forcing residents of the affected localities to buy water tankers at exorbitant rates.

An official of the KWSB claimed that at a time when the city was experiencing an acute water shortage, pumping of water from the Dhabeji pumping station remained suspended for one hour on Friday as there was no electricity supply at the pumping station’s Phase-IV from 3pm to 4pm, creating a shortfall of another 5mgd.

Officials said that though the pumping of water from all its major pumping stations had been normalized, some parts of the city would continue to suffer a shortfall of about 200mgd that had resulted in the wake of the power breakdowns on Monday and Tuesday.

They, however, said the city’s overall water supply position would be normalized either by Saturday evening or Sunday.

Though the water supply situation on Friday improved in some parts of the city, a number of localities either went without water or received a scant supply.

Most complaints pertaining to acute water shortage were received from the residents of Bahadurabad, Sharfabad, Kachchi Memon Housing Society, PECHS Block 2, North Karachi, Buffer Zone, Clifton’s Block 2 and Lyari, Daryabad, Singho Lane, Martin Quarters, Soldier Bazaar and Patel Para.

Residents of the affected localities said that in the absence of water they either bought private tankers at exorbitant rates or used sub-soil unhygienic water on Friday.

Some other localities, including Qasba Colony, Mianwali Colony, Rasheedabad and certain sectors of North Karachi, including Shadman Town, went without water for a second day running on Friday owing to the two-day water closure put in place by the KWSB for repairing leakages of some main lines.

OVERFLOW: Filthy water gushing out from some chocked sewers has continued to accumulate on different streets of Sector ‘P’ of Korangi 2-1/2 for the last two months.