Urban flooding threatens Karachi, lower Sindh as MET office forecasts fourth spell of rain

KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a warning that Karachi and lower Sindh can suffer from urban flooding in the days to come, as the fourth looming monsoon spell may wreak more havoc in the province than the earlier three spells.

The institution predicted that the fourth spell of monsoon rain in Karachi, which is forecast from August 7-8, can result in more rain than the previous three spells. 

A low lying pressure system, formed in the Bay of Bengal, is expected to enter Sindh on August 6.

"Under the influence of this weather system strong monsoon currents are expected to penetrate in Sindh, South Punjab and Eastern Balochistan from Thursday (evening/night) to Saturday," the PMD noted in its latest advisory.

"Widespread rain/wind-thundershowers, with isolated heavy to very heavy falls are expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Tharparker, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Tando Allah Yar, Matiyari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Jamshoro, Dadu and Shaheed Benazirabad from Thursday (evening/night) to Saturday."

The PMD said that heavy downpour may generate urban flooding in Karachi and Hyderabad and flash flooding in hill torrents of Khuzdar on Friday and Saturday and advised the authorities to stay alert during the period.

Last week, the Pakistan Army was called in to help the local administration in managing and dealing with the urban flooding crisis in Karachi.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the "Army [was] called to assist civil administration for managing the urban flooding situation in Karachi".

'Too many encroachments on Karachi's nullahs'

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal, while addressing a press conference on Sunday, had said that Karachi's stormwater drains have "too many encroachments" on them.

He said that daily, as much as 20,000 tonnes of solid waste is generated in Karachi. “The widths of most of the nullahs have been narrowed from 400 metres to three to four metres,” the NDMA chairman had said.

Lt Gen Afzal had added that from Monday (today), the Frontier Works Organisation will conduct a large-scale operation to clear the drains.

Additionally, local corps of Pakistan Army have also been tasked to provide relief to the people from flash floods.

Lt Gen Afzal had further said efforts have begun to formulate a long-term solution for flash flooding in the city by taking on board all stakeholders including federal, provincial, local governments, etc.

"Urgent efforts are being made to minimise the damage in the upcoming spell," he added.