Urban flooding threatens Karachi as PMD forecasts monsoon rains from Monday

KARACHI: The MET Office has forecast monsoon rains in Sindh from Monday with heavy rainfall expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar and Mirpur Khas from tonight (Sunday).

According to the MET office, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Jamshoro and Dadu are likely to receive rain from tomorrow.

“Rain/wind-thundershowers is expected in Sindh while heavy fall at few places is also expected in lower Sindh,” the MET Office in its daily weather report said. It added, “Partly cloudy weather is expected in the coastal districts of the province, while rain/wind-thundershower [with few heavy fall] is expected in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Mirpur Khas, Islamkot, Tharparkar, Nagrparkar and Mithi.”

The MET office also warned of urban flooding as a result of the rain in Karachi, Thatta, Badin and Hyderabad.

The monsoon system is expected to enter Tharparkar from today from India’s Gujrat while it is expected to enter Karachi on Monday, accompanied by strong winds.

“Intermittent rain is expected from July 6 to 8,” the PMD added.

Karachi 'may be hit by urban flooding'

In an earlier warning, the MET Office had said that Karachi as well as several other cities of Sindh might be affected by urban flooding as monsoon currents strengthen in the province.

In a press release, the Met office notified that "heavy rainfalls may generate urban flooding in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, and Hyderabad on Monday and Tuesday".

"The strengthened monsoon currents are predicted to generate widespread rain and thunderstorms in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Umarkot, Jamshoro, and Dadu from Sunday (night) to Tuesday," the statement added.

The Met department has advised all concerned authorities to remain “alert” and take necessary precautionary measures during the forecast periods to avert any unfortunate incident.