Torrential rain claims five more lives in Karachi, death toll at 13: rescue officials
Two people were electrocuted to death in Zaman Town, Korangi, while two others died in Orangi Town, Block L, and New Karachi, Sector 5D
August 23, 2017
KARACHI: A fresh spell of torrential rainfall lashed the metropolis Tuesday night, leaving at least five people dead and bringing the total death toll in rain-related incidents to 13 since Monday.
Two people were electrocuted to death late night here in Zaman Town, Korangi, rescue officials said, while two others – one each in Block L of Orangi Town and Sector 5D of New Karachi – also died in similar accidents.
Rescue sources added that factoring in the latest death, the total number of lives lost due to electrocution amid heavy rain is now 13.
High-tension lines trip
Large parts of the city were left without electricity after the rain started. Various social media users reported that several areas, including Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Malir, Super Highway, and the University Road areas, plunged into darkness soon afterwards.
One of K-Electric's high-tension lines tripped during the downpour, while eight of its grid stations experienced a major fault. Around 250 feeders also tripped, whereas rain and high winds damaged electric wires in numerous areas.
A spokesperson of the city's power utility said around 100 of the tripped feeders have been restored while work on bringing the rest back online is under way.
Major thoroughfares of the metropolis were also inundated with rainwater, causing severe traffic jams during the morning rush hour.
Intermittent rainfall is expected to continue through Wednesday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said early Tuesday morning.
Tuesday morning brought with it heavy rainfall some parts of Karachi, including FB Area, North Karachi, North Nazimabad, PECHS, Super Highway, II Chundrigar Road, SITE, and surrounding areas.
Bilawal directs for relief to rain-affectees
Chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday expressed deep grief and sorrow over losses of human lives in Karachi during two-day heavy rains and asked concerned authorities to provide relief to the people without any delay.
In a statement issued here, the PPP chairman said that deaths of innocent people in rain-related incidents in the provincial capital have saddened him and the fellow citizens.
"Steps should be taken to prevent and avert such incidents in future while war-footing basis engagements should carried out to drain away stagnant water from the city’s low-lying areas," he added.
KE strains under faulty feeders
The downpour on Monday was accompanied by stormy winds, which, too, had caused power outages across the city, leaving the local power supplier struggling. Over 300 of its feeders failed, of which 180 were restored late night.
While KE strained under the crisis, fresh rainfall is likely to make matters worse for city-dwellers. PMD has forecasted the weather system to continue for at least the next 48 hours.
