At least 6 dead in Karachi from rain-related incidents as city experiences 'extraordinary' showers

Published September 27, 2019
Roads are inundated, making road travel difficult for residents, while many areas experienced power outages. — AFP/File
Roads are inundated, making road travel difficult for residents, while many areas experienced power outages. — AFP/File

At least six people died in Karachi on Friday in rain-related incidents as the city experienced heavy showers for the fourth consecutive day.

Two brothers were among five electrocuted while a boy also drowned in the rainwater-filled Lyari River.

Police and rescue officials said that of the deceased, two men died when an electric wire fell down on moving motorbikes in SITE area.

"The victims were riding two separate motorbikes when an electricity wire fell down on them near a seminary in SITE. As a result, Abdul Rauf and Abdul Manan suffered an electric shock and died on the spot," said SITE-A SHO Saleem Awan.

The bodies were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital to fulfil legal formalities.

Two brothers were also electrocuted in Moosa Colony area of Gulberg on Friday evening.

Edhi Foundation spokesperson said that accumulated rainwater on the road had entered their home in Moosa Colony where the brothers identified as Javed, 11, and Saleem, 14, suffered an electric shock as reportedly a loose electric wire had fallen there.

Gulberg SHO Rafay Tanoli confirmed that both brothers died of electrocution inside their home but added that he was on his way to the place to ascertain as to how the incident occurred.

An eight-year-old boy, Arman Rabin, also died of electric shock inside his home in Hijrat Colony. His body was brought to the JPMC but relatives took away it without allowing doctors to fulfil legal formalities, said Dr Seemin Jamali, executive director of the hospital.

A minor boy drowned in the rainwater-filled Lyari River on Friday evening, said police and rescue sources.

Liaquatabad SHO Liaquat Hayat said that some boys were playing at the bank of the Lyari River when two of them drowned near Teen Hatti area.

One of them was rescued immediately while the other one drowned and efforts were underway to recover him.

He was identified as seven-year-old Sufiyan Karamat.

The officer said that the incident occurred at around 4pm and till nightfall he was not found and was believed to have died.

In another incident, a 20-year-old woman was electrocuted while on a footpath in Clifton, but was fortunate enough to have been saved by people.

South SSP Sheeraz Nazeer said that Mrs Samia Irfan was passing through Pizza Hut in the Boat Basin area when she got an electric shock, rendering her unconscious. Residents of the area shifted her to the JPMC from where she got discharged after medical treatment.

Rainfall recorded

Karachi's Nazimabad area received the heaviest showers, where 55 millimetres of rain were recorded, an official from Meteorological Department said.

He added that 45mm of rain was recorded in Saddar, 45mm in Surjani, 20mm in Landhi, 32mm in Masroor/Mauripur, 27mm in North Karachi, 11mm in Shareh-e-Faisal, 1.4mm in the Airport area while traces were reported from Gulshan-i-Hadeed.

He further said that more rain is expected.

The recent spell of rain, that has hampered daily activities of Karachi residents, was termed as "extraordinary" by Senior Met official Sardar Sarfaraz, Geo TV reported.

Karachi Electric spokesperson Adil Murtaza urged citizens to stay away from open wires, pad-mounted transformers and electric poles.

He said that power had been disconnected in Korangi Crossing, Maripur, and some parts of Defence and Gulshan-i-Iqbal as "precautionary measures". Bin Qasim, Baldia and Surjani Town are also experiencing power outages.

"Due to rain and lack of draining of accumulated rain-water, repair work was facing delay," Murtaza said.

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