KARACHI, Oct 3: Scattered rains and slightly cold winds on Sunday kept the weather of the city pleasant enough for excursionists to make a beeline for the seaside, safe in the knowledge that their coast would not be hit by a severe tropical cyclone.

The Met Office announced on Sunday evening that Karachi had received 35 millimetres of rain over the past 36 hours. It also said that the next 24 hours could also see more rains and thunderstorm.

"We were all very disappointed that monsoon had passed without any rains. So, the rains generated by the cyclone were a welcome visitor to this city. But I hope the cyclone does not leave a trail of devastation in its wake in other coastal areas of Sindh," said a picnicker on Sea view who had come to the seaside with his family.

While the people Karachi enjoyed the downpour, they were inconvenienced by the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation, which failed to keep its transmission and distribution system working.

"My locality has been without electricity for the past 30 hours," said an irate resident of Federal B Area, Block 4, "and the KESC regional complaint centre has done nothing to repair the fault. We could have had a whale of a time if the KESC had not spoilt everything."

As usual, the drainage system in many areas also failed to cope with the rain water which resulted in the flooding of streets and roads. According to the Met Office, temperature inched up to 28.5 degrees centigrade on Sunday. It added that it would increase further on Monday.