KARACHI: Monsoon rains Friday continued to lash the city as seven more people lost their lives while public miseries from accumulated rainwater and poor sewerage system grew further.
The city's business and commercial activities got affected, public transport remained thin on the roads and the electricity transmission system of K-Electric came to a halt, resulting in prolonged power outages at various city neighbourhoods.
A billboard collapsed due to gusty winds near Metropole Chowrangi, leaving three motorists including an elderly man injured, police said. The incident prompted Karachi commissioner to direct DCs for the removal of billboard from the city.
Rescue sources said a teenage boy identified as Kashan was electrocuted in Kati Pahari. A 6-year old boy drown into nullah in Banaras. Four persons electrocuted in Ghulistan-e-Jauhar, Mewashah in Lyari, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Block-13D, and Landhi areas of the city.
Earlier, the Met office recorded rainfall as Faisal Base 94 mm, Sarjani 72 mm, Saddar 70mm, MOS old area Airport 68mm, Met complex 57mm, University road 54mm, Gulshan-e-Hadeed 52mm, Landhi 44mm, Nazimabad, Masroor Base 39mm, North Karachi 33mm, Kemari 22mm, and Jinnah Terminal 11mm during the last 24 hours.
Met office informed that monsoon low pressure now lies over Sindh and likely to move westwards over Balochistan during Friday evening/night. Under the influence of this weather system strong monsoon currents are expected to penetrate in Balochistan from Friday (evening) to Sunday morning.
It said more rain/wind-thundershower are expected in most parts of Balochistan from Friday to Sunday morning. Sea condition would remain rough to very rough along Sindh Makran coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture in open sea during the period.
Heavy downpour may generate flash flooding in local nullahs of Balochistan on Friday and Saturday. All Concerned Authorities are advised to remain alert. Precautions should be taken in operating the local reservoirs/dams.
NDMA which has been engaged in clean up operation of Karachi's major storm drains along with Frontier Works Organisation in Karachi claimed to have completed over 95 percent of the work in Guggar Nullah, Korangi nullah, and Moach Ghoth nullah. Approximately 30 thousand tonnes of sludge was removed and 40 out of 42 chocking points were cleared, the NDMA said.
"The effect of Karachi rain in North Nazimabad during the last rain and today, simply suggests that the cleaning of drains on instructions of PM Imran Khan has helped the people of Karachi. Else, it would have been much worse," A citizen Annus Raza said.
"The real problem lies on our part! We don't keep our drains clean and water can find its way," a citizen Sohail Anwar tweeted. KE said its teams are working tirelessly to resolve all faults. Some feeders have been closed due to water logging, leading to safety concerns in the area.
It asked consumers to call 118 emergency only for life threatening hazards like sparking fire, live wires, or downed poles / PMTs. Sindh government said as many as 4.37 CFT sludge has been removed from 54 nullahs, including 18 connecting drains so far, and 63,000 tonnes of offal lifted during three days of Eid and shifted to the dumping site.
The Solid Waste Emergency & Efficiency Project (SWEEP) informed chief minister Sindh in a meeting that up to 6 August 4.47 CFT sludge has been removed from 36 big nullahs of KMC and 18 nullahs of DMCs.
Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shahalwani in his initial report told the CM that due to pre-emptive measures rain water did not cross the M-9, therefore Saadi Town and the Grid station remained safe. There were some choking points such as Safoora, Safari Park, Nagan Chowrangi, KDA Chorangi where dewatering machines were installed to clear the areas. Malir Lath Dam did not overflow, therefore nearby areas remained safe. The dewatering of Muslim Gymkhana and Wazir Mansion area were done through dewatering machines. Hub River Road was chocked this evening which was cleared by 7 pm. Surjani Town and Yousif Goth were cleared through dewatering machines.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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