Five electrocuted to death as heavy rain, stormy winds hit Karachi

 

KARACHI: Heavy rain, coupled with stormy winds, hit the city late Monday night, leading to panic on the roads, power outages, and destroyed electricity poles.

Numerous areas were blocked off due to massive traffic jams, whereas many commuters were stranded as their vehicles broke down midway.

The social media unit of the traffic department in a message advised citizens to drive carefully due to rain water and pits on road in various parts of the city, including Quaidabad towards Kala board and vice versa. Drivers will also face traffic jams at Main Shahrah-e-Faisal road and Star Gate towards Natha Khan Stop.

The stormy weather enveloped different cities in Sindh, including Hyderabad and Karachi.

Rain claims five lives

Five people, including three women, lost their lives in rain-related incidents Monday night, rescue officials said.

A woman was electrocuted to death in the city's Old Golimar area, rescue sources said, while two others also died in a similar incident in Soldier Bazaar.

Six others were injured.

Power outages

Different areas of the city experienced power cuts during and following the downpour Monday night.

Shah Faisal Town, Gulistan-e-Johar, F.B. Area, Malir, Airport, University Road, Defence, Safoora Goth, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Gurumandir and other localities were plunged into darkness as 300 feeders tripped.

The heavy rainfall also led to water stagnating at various roads and intersections in the metropolis, thereby causing blockages and traffic jams around midnight.

 

According to the Director of Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the rain is forecasted to continue at least through Wednesday.

Traffic hindrances as trees fall

Strong winds that accompanied the torrential rainfall in Karachi Monday night fell numerous trees in Gulistan-e-Johar area, as well as one near the Chief Minister House.

One tree – that fell on a car parked on the corner of a road in Gulistan-e-Johar – was moved by passersby in order to help resume traffic flow partially.

KE 'most unsuccessful institution'

Syed Murad Ali Shah – the Chief Minister of Sindh – slammed K-Electric over power outages that occurred right following rain in Karachi.

"Why was KE unprepared for this situation when it knew about the rain forecast?" Shah inquired, noting that he will not tolerate the company's "unruly, chaotic system" anymore.

The CM advised the organisation to fix its behaviour and operations, calling it "the most unsuccessful institution".

"How come the feeders trip immediately after the first drop of rain?" Shah said.

KE statement

"Almost 300 feeders have tripped due to the heavy rain," a spokesperson for K-Electric had earlier told Geo News. 180 feeders have been restored while work on the rest is under way, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that maintenance work to resume feeders' operations will start once the rain stops and that "emergency teams have been deployed on the field considering the present forecast".

On the other hand, the power supplying company tweeted out a list of guidelines to follow in situations like today, when there is a possibility of live wires getting cut and thrown on the ground.

Impact on mandi

Rainwater also hindered business operations in the animal mandi set up at the Super Highway.

The heavy rain inconvenienced buyers from reaching the mandi and caused slight panic since sacrificial animals are of high value and need to be kept in good health.

Nevertheless, work to drain the rainwater is now underway.