Karachi receives first monsoon shower
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Residents of Karachi are elated as most areas of the metropolis received the first pre-monsoon rain of the year on Wednesday.
Starting at around 7 in the evening, the showers brought relief for Karachiites, who spent Eidul Fitr in sweltering heat during windless days.
Hardly a couple of hours into the rainfall, several areas of the city experienced power breakdowns. Power outages were reported by residents of Malir, Clifton, DHA, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, PECHS and North Nazimabad on Facebook group Halaat Updates.
As a result of the downpour, 400 feeders of K-Electric tripped. However, 100 of these feeders were restored by 10pm, KE Director Marketing and Communication Sadia Dada told Dawn.com via email.
KE teams are working to restore the remaining feeders, she said.
"The overall power supply to Karachi is intact including power supply to strategic installations; key hospitals, Dhabeji pumping station and airport."
She said KE helpline and ground teams continue to work round the clock to address any localised faults.
The utility provider urged the public to stay away from broken wires, poles and transformers during rainy and windy weather.
It requested customers to inform the power utility of any broken wires or complaints by calling on 118 or 021-99000. Queries may also be sent via SMS to 8119 or through KE’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Some social media users shared that they were experiencing traffic jams following the rain, especially on sections of Sharea Faisal.
Moist currents from the Arabian Sea, which are penetrating upper and central parts of the country, and a westerly wave are giving the first pre-monsoon rains and windstorms since last week.
Storms and widespread rains, heavy at places, in most parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Azad Kashmir last week claimed at least eight lives.
The Met Office had earlier predicted rain and thundershowers with strong winds at scattered locations in lower Sindh and eastern Balochistan between Wednesday and Saturday.
Karachiites took to Twitter to express their joy at the first rain of the monsoon season.
