Sindh Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro on Friday said there is no rain water on Karachi's road "as a result of the provincial government's proper planning and hard work".

At least 23 people died ─ mostly from electrocution ─ as monsoon rains lashed the city a day earlier, and parts of the city were submerged in water. The spell of rains which began Wednesday evening is expected to continue for three days in various parts of Sindh.

Shoro and Sindh Information Minister Nasir Shah, while addressing a press conference today, said they had been "on the streets" the last two days on the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Shah.

They said that although the city had received heavy rain continuously, the sea was at high tide, and that Karachi lies below sea level, the streets had been cleared of accumulated rain water because main drains were cleansed.

Nasir Shah said that a breach in Thado Dam which threatened to cause flooding in Saadi Town and nearby areas had been plugged. He added that the government had removed encroachments from storm water drains, reconstructed roads and redone the drainage system, which is why water "drained out within a few hours".

Shoro said over 2,700 Water Board workers had been engaged in clearing the sewerage system, and 35 machines had been installed in low-lying areas to pump out rain water.

The ministers began their visits around the city from the Sindh Secretariat where rain water had accumulated on Thursday. They then visited Lyari, and inspected different localities, including Shah Latif Bhittai Road, Chakiwara Road, Mewa Shah Road, Shah Waliullah Road, Faqir Mohammad Doora Khan Road and Cheel Chowk, where rain water was cleared.

However, water remained stagnant on the streets in UC-11, after which Shoro directed Water Board Managing Director Hashim Raza Zaidi and the DMC South chairman to coordinate with each other to clear the area.

Shoro told reporters that I.I. Chundrigar Road looked like a swimming pool on Thursday night. "I personally remained there for a few hours got almost all the manholes opened and cleared," he said.

He added that encroachments had reduced Gujjar Nala to four feet, but it had been restored to 80 feet, allowing water to flow smoothly.

"The clearance of the Mahmoodabad Nala drained rain water from Shahrah-i-Faisal and Tariq Road, while the clearance of Kalri Nala help to drain water from Lyari," he said.

Nasir Shah said nine choking points had been identified in District East during their visits, which had been cleared.

The ministers said a detailed cleanliness plan had been formulated for Eidul Azha, for the lifting of offal, fumigation and washing of streets.

Shoro said he had issued necessary directives to DMCs to keep teams active to lift the offal of sacrificial animals on all three days of Eid.

Local bodies had also chalked out cleanliness plans and directed to launch fumigation drives in their areas simultaneously.

The ministers appreciated the DMC chairman, KMC mayor and deputy mayor, and all deputy commissioners for taking an active part in the cleaning of the city and solving public problems.