Heavy rainfall wreaks havoc in Karachi

KARACHI: Torrential rains once again lashed Karachi on Friday, turning the city's roads and streets into canals and streams and leading to immediate power outage in numerous neighbourhoods, reports indicated.

Areas that received rainfall included Jamshed Road, Model Colony, Saddar, Clifton, Malir, Gulistan-e-Johar, Dhoraji, Bahadurabad, PECHS, Soldier Bazaar, University Road, Gulshan-e-Hadid, Abdullah Haroon Road, Shah Faisal Colony, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Fawwara Chowk, M.A. Jinnah Road, and Garden.

Electricity was cut as soon as light rain started in Kharadar, Akhtar Colony, Kashmir Colony, and Defence View.

Power outage was also reported in Manzoor Colony, Model Colony, Shah Faisal Colony, Korangi, Saddar, Lines Area, Orangi Town, Gadap, Kathore, Baldia Town, Lyari, Shah Faisal Town, Tariq bin Ziyad Society, Malir Halt, Moeenabad, Liaquatabad C-1 Area, Drigh Road, Defence Housing Authority (DHA), and Mehmoodabad.

In Garden West, there has been no power since three hours, whereas in Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block 18, power outage has been ongoing since more than two hours.

On the other hand, there were traffic jams on numerous thoroughfares in the city, including Shahrah-e-Faisal, Johar Morr, Saddar, I.I. Chundrigar Road, .A. Jinnah Road, Korangi Road, Denso Hall, Zainab Market, Lucky Star, Urdu Bazaar, Soldier Bazaar, Jama Cloth, Corridor 3, Hassan Square, Karsaz, Rashid Minhas, and NIPA.

Stagnating rainwater

The underpasses on Khayaban-e-Iqbal (between Teen Talwar and Do Talwar) and Drigh Road had been flooded and consequently closed off to the traffic.

Many cars and motorcycles broke down due to being on waterlogged roads. Reports also indicated that trees near the Karachi Press Club (KPC) got uprooted and fell on nearby vehicles.

Water started stagnating at Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Teen Talwar, Do Talwar, Bath Island, Hotel Metropole, Nursery, Karsaz, Baloch Colony, Drigh Road, and President House Road.

Read more: At least five dead, multiple wounded in Karachi thunderstorm

Situation in the Airport police station's surroundings worsened due to at least 1.5-foot deep rain water on the roads, including Drigh Road, with traffic coming to a halt. Officials under the leadership of superintendent of traffic police (SP) have employed large pumps to drain the stagnating water.

Stagnating water and traffic jams were also reported in Liaquatabad, Ghareebabad, Sakhi Hassan, and KDA Chowrangi in Karachi's Central district.

In the East district, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Jahangir Road, Gurumandir, PIB Colony, University Road, Awami Markaz, Club Chowk, Hassan Square, Hotel Mehran, Regent Plaza, Tibet Centre, Rimpa Plaza, Shaheen Complex, and PIDC Chowk also experienced the same.

According to the PMD, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Faisal Base, Saddar, Landhi, Gulshan-e-Hadid, Met Complex, University Road, Jinnah International Airport's Jinnah Terminal, Nazimabad, and PAF Masroor Base recorded 63.5 millimetres, 41mm, 40mm, 40mm, 28mm, 16mm, 15mm, 9mm, and 5.7mm of rainfall, respectively.

Power supply remained intact: K-Electric

The K-Electric in a statement issued late Friday said "power supply remained intact" in Karachi during the rain earlier today.

"However, power supply to a few low-lying areas including Orangi, Korangi, small pockets of DHA, Baldia, Gulshan and Bin Qasim as well as in areas with a high incidence of kundas was temporarily suspended in the interest of public safety," the company added.

Noting that its teams' "presence has been felt across the city", the power supplier noted that its management had contacted the city administration to help drain the stagnated rainwater.

According to a company spokesperson, the teams "remained fully alert following prediction of rain and responded swiftly to restore electricity to affected areas".

"Power supply to strategic installations including key hospitals, KWSB [Karachi Water and Sewerage Board] pumping stations, and the airport remained unaffected throughout", the spokesperson added.

"The power utility regrets inconvenience caused to customers due to inclement weather," the K-Electric representative added, issuing its usual warnings to stay away from utility poles and broken wires.

Deaths from electrocution

More than a week ago, 15 people — including a child — had died of electrocution as light rain continued to pound many areas of the metropolis.

Power supply was cut off in multiple areas due to the rain under the influence of a monsoon system, health officials and volunteers of rescue services said.

As usual, many low-lying areas and roads had been inundated with rainwater and sewage after gutters overflowed following the rain, with residents facing extreme difficulties in reaching their destinations.

The Sindh energy department has established a special rain emergency cell to provide emergency information about incidents of electrocution in the province during the current season of monsoon.

Rain emergency cell

In this regard, Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh had on July 8 contacted the K-Electric's chief executive officer, secretary for the federal power division, and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) chairperson, urging them to immediately fix responsibility of the incidents of electrocution across the province.

The rain emergency cell may be contacted from 10am to 5pm on the landline number 021-99207139.

The rain emergency cell may also be accessed on the cell phone number 0333-2498330 in the case of the K-Electric, 0333-3778765 in the case of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), and 0333-2479882 in the case of Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO).

K-Electric says improved system

At that time, the metropolis' sole power supplying company, the K-Electric, had said it had already taken significant steps to improve its distribution network ahead of the predicted torrential rains in the city.

A spokesperson for the K-Electric said protecting human lives was "a top priority" for the company and advised people to stay away from utility poles and broken wires in the rainy season.

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Among the "commendable" steps it took to improve its system were geo-tagging of high- and low-tension (HT and LT) poles, earthing, and grounding. "The K-Electric continuously remained active against the kunda [illegal electricity connections] mafia, as well as illegal Internet and TV cables on its poles," the spokesperson added.

"We hope that the city government and related institutions will drain rain water immediately," the K-Electric representative noted. "The K-Electric's mobile teams are always busy in timely assistance for power-related issues."