KARACHI: Dhabeji’s water mains — principal source of water supply to the City’s three million population — burst late on Thursday night causing the worst-ever water crisis in Karachi.

The “serious shortage” is likely to continue for at least “36 hours” beginning this morning, the Kara­chi Development Authority warned yesterday.

However, 30 million gallons of water are still stored at the two reservoirs on COD Hills, and the Authority plans to ration it area-wise on an austerity basis this morning.

The news of the break-down caused a stir all over the City yesterday afternoon, and it was repeated over the Radio all day. The scared people rushed to their homes to store all the available water.

Hotels, hospitals, other civic services and commercial houses began buying water at exorbitant rates — some paying as much as 75 rupees per truck. In residential areas water was selling at one rupee per bag (Mashk).

By the evening there was no water at all — at least in the old city area. All the taps were dry and even water carriers sat idle after a busy day.

The water engineers were working round the clock in full force to provide makeshift arrangements.

Supply to all non-domestic consumers, industrial houses, and agricultural farms has been totally stopped.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies from New York,] about 20,000 pacifists gathered in Madison Square Garden here on Thursday night to protest against the Viet-Nam war.

More than 1,000 latecomers were unable to find seats at the meeting, held by the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE).

Thirty-nine pacifist and progressist organisations helped organise the demonstration.

An appeal to President Johnson to end the war was read to the audience, who enthusiastically approved it.

The appeal read: “We believe the involvement of the United States in Viet-Nam is mistaken and contrary to the cause of peace and international law.”

Published in Dawn December 10th, 2016