Karachi braces itself for rain

• Karachi is likely to receive moderate to heavy rains this afternoon, says PMD.

• Heavy falls could cause urban flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Khuzdar, Ormara, Pasni and Gwadar till Tuesday evening.
• Around 100 to 150 millimeters of rain can inundate low-lying areas, and cause urban flooding, warn officials.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast moderate to heavy rains in Karachi this afternoon or evening under the influence of a strong monsoon system that has entered southeastern Sindh from the neighbouring Indian state of Rajasthan.

The Met office warned that heavy falls could cause urban flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Khuzdar, Ormara, Pasni and Gwadar till Tuesday evening.

The PMD had earlier forecast rain with thundershowers in Karachi on Saturday evening, but due to changing weather conditions, chances of rain and thunderstorm vanished. However, PMD officials said heavy rains with some very heavy falls in Sindh and Balochistan from Sunday could still cause an “urban flooding-like situation” in Karachi and other cities of lower Sindh.

“A strong monsoon system from the Bay of Bengal has entered southeastern Sindh and it may get some support from the Arabian Sea in the next 24 hours. This system is likely to cause heavy to very heavy rains in Tharparkar, Tharparker, Umerkot, Sanghar, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Hyderabad, Tando M. Khan, Tando Allayar, Karachi, Dadu and Jamshoro districts during 3-5 July,” Sarfraz said.

Officials said around 100 to 150 millimeters of rain could inundate low-lying areas, cause urban flooding, disrupt the power supply network and cause other issues like massive traffic jams on city roads.

The Met department said the weather will remain partly cloudy, with chances of rains in the metropolis during the next 24 hours. The maximum temperatures are expected to remain from 32 to 34 degrees Celsius.

The humidity level in the city was recorded at 75% as of Sunday. In addition to this, winds were blowing in the city at a speed of 14 km/hour from the southwest

Sindh CM’s aide summons meeting on rain emergency

In view of the expected urban flooding and the forecast of “above normal rains” by the Met Office, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh Waqar Mehdi has summoned a meeting to review preparations to deal with the upcoming situation.

Senior officials of the DMC, KMC, KDA and local bodies will be among the attendees of the meeting, said a spokesperson of the Sindh government.