Prolonged power outages hit Karachi after heavy rains submerge city

• At least 24 people were killed due to rain-related incidents in Karachi, said the police.
• Rain, sewerage water enter houses of DHA, Lyari, and Liaquatabad. 
• Several areas of city witness hours-long power outage.

KARACHI: Intermittent heavy rains in different parts of Karachi since Monday evening have inundated many areas of the city, bringing life to a complete halt. 

To top it all off, the electricity supply in most areas of the city has been suspended for several hours, making it difficult for people to carry on their day-to-day activities.

Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society (SMCHS) Block B has been without power for the last 24 hours, while residents of DHA's Khayaban e Badban say the supply of electricity has been suspended for the last 36 hours.

According to Geo News, rainwater accumulated on the main roads and streets of the Defense Housing Authority (DHA), Clifton, Malir, Airport Road, I.I Chundrigar Road, Saddar, Old City Area, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Federal B Area, North Nazimabad, Korangi, and PECHS.

In addition to residential areas, several main roads of the city, including the NIPA Chowrangi Flyover, Qayyummabad Chowrangi, Arts Council Chowrangi, Supreme Court Registry, Zainab Market, Bolton Market, and MA Jinnah Road have been flooded with rain and sewerage water, affecting the flow of traffic. 

Meanwhile, several vehicles and motorcycles broke down on the streets because of the accumulated water. 

Flooding of streets, houses in DHA

Owing to the incessant rains throughout Monday, several phases of DHA became flooded with water.  These include Tauheed Commercial Area, Ittehad Commercial Area, Khayaban e Shamsheer, Muslim Commercial, Sea View, Badr Commercial, Saba Avenue, Khayaban e Bahria, 26th Street, Khayaban e Mujahid and Khayaban e Tanzeem. 

According to the report, rainwater entered many houses, damaging furniture and other household items. 

Meanwhile, stagnant water outside the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) — the largest cardiology hospital in the city — made it difficult for ambulances to travel back and forth.

The Clifton submarine underpass and the KPT underpass had to be closed due to flooding, while rainwater also entered houses in certain areas of Liaquatabad and Bihar Colony of Lyari.

Forecast for more rainfall

According to meteorologist Jawad Memon, a new rain system is moving toward the city, which is likely to bring more heavy rains to Karachi within the next few hours.

Meteorological analysts say that rain clouds from the Arabian Sea are moving toward the city continuously, therefore, there is a possibility of intermittent rain till tomorrow evening.

24 killed in Karachi due to rain-related incidents

Karachi Police said Tuesday that 24 people have been killed due to the rains that lashed the city from July 4-11.

The law enforcement agency said that 15 were killed due to electrocution, while nine people were killed due to other rain-related incidents.

The police said that the deaths due to electrocution were reported from Karachi’s Bahadurabad, Garden Town, New Karachi, Industrial Area, Darkhshan and Sohrab Goth.

While people that deaths were reported due to drowning were from Malir, Liaquatabad, Sohrab Goth, Gadap, Baloch Colony and Domba Goth. Deaths due to roof collapse were reported from New Karachi, Gulberg and Chamra Chowrangi, said the police. 

On the other hand, a day earlier the Provincial Disaster Management Authority had said that 26 people were killed in rain related incidents during current spell of monsoon rains across Sindh.

In a statement, PDMA had said 14 died in Karachi, nine in Thatta, two in Khairpur and one in Sukkur.

DHA receives heaviest rainfall

The Pakistan Meteorological Department released Monday's rainfall data of Karachi from 6am to 11am, according to which the heaviest rainfall, measuring 126.6mm, was recorded in DHA Phase II.

On the other hand, PAF Faisal Base received 88mm of rainfall, Masroor Base received 53mm of rainfall, North Karachi 38mm, while Old Airport and University Road received 35.6mm and 34 mm of rainfall, respectively.

Funds given to Karachi spent for accumulating properties in Dubai: Imran Khan

Lashing out at the Sindh government and PPP-co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari over the post-rain situation in the province, Imran Khan alleged that the funds given to Karachi during his tenure ended up in fake accounts and were invested in Dubai properties.

Taking to Twitter, he said that this "nexus of evil" must be brought to an end.

Imran said that the first spell of monsoon rains has exposed the 14-year corrupt rule of the Zardari family in the province.

“Rains once again exposed the 14-year corrupt rule of Zardari’s family in Sindh. It is the classic example how corruption ruins governance,” he added.