KARACHI, July 30: All civic agencies have totally failed to drain out stagnant rainwater from the affected areas of Lyari.

The worst situation existed in Baghdadi and Shah Beg Lane union councils for the last three days, where drainage system was chocked as overflowing sewage and continuing rain inundated roads and streets.

This scribe tried to contact the concerned officials of water and sanitation department, but failed to receive any response in this regard.

An activist of the Community Based Organization (CBO) told Dawn that he had made every effort to contact the concerned XEN, but his mobile number was not responding. Moreover, it appeared as if there was no coordination among the town and sanitation officials, he added.

The residents of various localities have been demanding immediate action to drain out the stagnant rainwater. They expressed fear that any epidemic could spread out due to the accumulated rainwater on roads and streets.

They claimed that the standing sewage could prove hazardous to human health, as it was breeding mosquitoes causing malaria and other diseases. A visit to the area showed that rain had completely destroyed the roads of Lyari Town.

Most of the streets in Lyari Town are without drainage system resulting in accumulation of rainy water in the congested localities exposing people to health hazards. Conditions in Bombassa street and Fidha Husain Shaikha Road became the worst due to overflowing gutters and accumulated rainwater.

The area residents said that the rainwater mixed with sewage had entered into houses in Saifi Lane and adjoining areas of Fidha Husain Shaikha Road, Haji Pir Mohammad Road, Slaughter House Road, Ahmed Shah Bukhari Road, Niazi Chowk and a portion of Shah Waliullah Road.

Large potholes and craters have been developed in major roads, including Shah Latif Bhittai Road, Tannary Road, Mirza Adam Khan Road, Juna Kumarwara Road and Mauripur Road. During a visit to the area, people complained about apathy of the elected representatives towards their problems, saying that rain has exposed claims of authorities, as the whole area is showing a devastated look.

An NGO activist wondered that the Town Nazim could not dare to approach the people or even pay a visit to the affected area. A senior PPP worker, H. M. Ganchi, known for his social services, admitted that the town administration had failed to deliver goods. He said that sanitary condition in the area in the past was much better, adding that he had never expected such a disastrous condition of sewerage system in the area.