• Citizens grapple with broken, flooded roads, frequent power outages and sewage spill
• Urban flooding feared as weather system likely to intensify from today

KARACHI: Two persons died from electrocution as intermittent rains continued throughout the day on Wednesday, affecting life in the metropolis.

The civic situation is feared to get worse in the city facing a growing threat of urban flooding as the ongoing weather system is expected to gather more steam from Thursday (today).

According to the Met department officials, the ‘deep depression’ over south of Tharparkar and adjoining Runn of Kutch continues to move west-southwestward and is likely to reach northeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Sindh coast by Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

“All models are indicating a strong monsoon system reaching close to the coast. As of now, there is no possibility that it will lose its intensity. In fact, it would likely intensify,” shared Chief Meteorologist Dr Sardar Sarfaraz.

According to him, experience shows that a monsoon system brings about maximum rain in Karachi when it reaches south, south-west of the city. “The city might see heavy downpour on Thursday morning or in the afternoon. We are expecting 150mm to 200mm rain in the city within two to three days.”

According to Dr Sarfaraz, storm surge is also expected during the same period when the system would be over the sea, gathering more intensity.

According to officials, sea conditions are likely to remain rough to very rough with squally winds of 30-40 Kts during the forecast period. Fishermen are advised not to venture in open sea till 30 August.

Two electrocuted

Two persons died from electrocution in different parts of the city on Wednesday, rescuers said.

They said that 40-year-old Haroon suffered electric shock at a residential building in Jamshed Quarters during rain. He died on the spot. The victim was the watchman of the building. The body was taken to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi.

In Metroville, a young man, identified as Zaman Zulfiqar, 25, was electrocuted, said police surgeon Summaiya Syed.

Worsening civic situation

Two days’ of moderate to heavy showers have left the citizens grappling with host of issues, ranging from broken and flooded roads and lanes to frequent power outages and overflowing gutters.

According to the Met department’s total rainfall data Aug 27-Aug 28 till 5pm, the maximum rainfall was recorded in Gulshan-i-Hadeed 121mm followed by Quaidabad 92.5mm. Nazimabad, 54mm, Kaemari 47mm, Bin Qasim town 55.2mm, Surjani Town 44mm and Met Complex (University Road) 40.8mm.

Data of other areas: old airport area 33mm, Jinnah Terminal 30mm, PAF Faisal Base 35mm, Masroor Base 21mm, North Karachi 38.2mm, Orangi town 22mm, DHA Phase II 28.2mm, Gulshan-i-Maymar 35.4mm, Korangi 38mm, Gadap (near Baqai Hospital) 14mm and Saddar 10mm.

Karach Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, however, said that teams of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) were working round the clock on water drainage at locations where water had accumulated due to continuous rain.

He said all relevant staff was present on the roads and despite continuous rains main roads and underpasses were clear and attention was also being given to low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, the Met department’s advisory forecasts widespread rain/wind-thunderstorms with scattered heavy-very heavy to isolated extremely heavy falls likely in Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu and Shaheed Benazirabad districts and Karachi division till August 31 with occasional gaps.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2024