Rain emergency declared as PMD revises weather advisory for Karachi

• Heavy rain likely in KP, Punjab areas, says Sardar Sarfraz.
• KWSC dispatches 55 suction machines to major thoroughfares.
• Water corp 'completes all arrangements' to tackle rain.

KARACHI: The Met Department on Thursday revised its advisory for Karachi, stating that “heavy showers are not expected” in the metropolis amid rain emergency measures.

While rain continued to hit various parts of Balochistan, Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz said heavy rain was not expected in Karachi.

Sarfraz said the rain system from Balochistan was entering into Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and there were chances of heavy rain in different areas of both the provinces. Whereas, there was a forecast of torrential rains along the coastal belt in Blaochistan, he maintained.

"Heavy rain is falling in some parts of Balochistan," the chief meteorologist added.

On the other hand, light rain hit different parts of Karachi including Numaish Chowrangi, MA Jinnah Road, Saddar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karimabad, Safoora and their adjacent areas.

Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Karachi Water Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) Engineer Asadullah Khan on Wednesday dispatched 55 suction machines to all important highways of the city.

In a video statement, he stated that Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab had imposed a rain emergency in anticipation of rain by the meteorological department. Khan added that the water corporation had completed all arrangements to tackle the rain.

Khan mentioned that the KWSC possesses a total of 55 suction machines, and prior to the expected rain, these machines would be deployed to all significant highways and different locations in the city's “deep areas”. 

Executive Engineer Workshop Division Shafqat Hussain and the relevant Executive Engineer would oversee all vehicles, he said.

He assured that all sewerage pumping stations would remain operational with the assistance of generators in case of power outages. Moreover, a substantial quantity of diesel had been delivered to the sewage pumping stations.

During the announcement, Khan urged citizens not to remove manhole covers during the rainy season, emphasising that sewer manholes were not intended for rainwater drainage.

The COO KWSC stated that all the KWSC staff, especially the sewerage personnel, were on high alert, leading to the cancellation of leave for the engineering wing staff.

The management of the KWSC was fully prepared with manpower to handle the rain and any possible scenarios, maintaining constant communication with all other local bodies, including the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), he said.

Khan further emphasised that the KWSC staff were working around the clock to serve the public, with water corporation vehicles and employees remaining on the roads until rainwater drainage was completed. He also urged the citizens to refrain from unnecessary movement and avoid leaving their homes unnecessarily in case of rains.