KARACHI: The first spell of monsoon rain with gusty winds struck Karachi on Monday, leaving at least 4 people dead including a minor girl and playing havoc with the ill-maintained civic infrastructure, and power supply system of the metropolis.
The rain exposed overstatements of civic authorities for a comprehensive rain emergency plan, as city roads turned into water pools, traffic gridlocks at main arteries including Shara-e-Faisal and University Road, power supply suspended after a few drops of rain hit the city. Many areas even remained without electricity for several hours after rain stopped while the chocked sewerage lines flooded.
The strong winds uprooted trees at Tariq Road, and peeling off the face of a multi-storey building on Shara-e-Faisal. Tiles of building fell on the road, however no injury was reported.
The rain poured down heavily in Malir Cantt, areas adjoining the airport, Lines Area, Saddar, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, DHA, Korangi Industrial Area, Garden, Model Colony and Saudabad. Neighbouring areas of the city such as Gharo also experienced rain, according to the meteorological department.
MET office data showed that 43mm of rainfall was recorded in Saddar, the highest in the metropolis, followed by 26mm in PAF Faisal Base and 22mm in Nazimabad, 12mm at PAF Masroor Base, 8.8mm at Jinnah Terminal, 3.1 mm in Landhi, 1.2 mm in Surjani and 0.6 mm University Road/Johar.
The MET office already warned of urban flooding as a result of the rains in Karachi, Thatta, Badin and Hyderabad. It said strengthened monsoon currents are predicted to generate widespread rain and thunderstorms in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Umarkot, Jamshoro, and Dadu till Tuesday.
Citizens, particularly the youth came out of homes, enjoying the rain and most of them were not following Covid-19 SOPs. They were neither wearing face masks, nor keeping social distancing.
Police said 60-year-old Khadim Hussain son of Ameer Baksh died by roof collapse at Ibrahim Hyderi, near Baloch Para, Korangi.
Similarly, 3-year-old Esha daughter of Munawar died when wall collapsed at House No B87 Shamsi Society, Malir near Ghareeb Nawaz Masjid Liaquatabad. Body of the victim was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC).
A 60-year-old woman named Tajan wife of Abdul Razzaq lost her life due to wall collapse at House No AV-31 Anghara Goth near Ghareeb Nawaz Masjid Liaquatabad. The body was shifted to Abbasi Shahed Hospital ASH for medico-legal formalities.
A number of people injured in motorcycle accidents on slippery roads because of the rain. The traffic police as usual remained incapable to manage traffic while the civic authorities remained unmoved leaving the citizens at the mercy of rain.
People from parts of the city including Korangi, Malir, Lyari, Orangi Town, Landhi, North Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, Safoora Goth, Saddar complained about prolong power failure after the rain.
"I think KE has taken precautions to the next level, no electricity no risk of electrocution! No power since 4pm, no response from call center, not sure how much longer the ordeal is going to continue," a consumer Faisal Jaffar tweeted.
Hours before rain hit Karachi, KE took to twitter saying "Heavy rains and windy conditions expected from today in Karachi and surrounding areas. Please keep children indoors and ensure safety measures are followed."
Meanwhile, Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar imposed rain emergency at Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and directed all concerned departments to remain high alert to cope with any untoward situation.
Akhtar asked municipal services, fire brigade and departments of health, parks and engineering to remain alert. He also asked managements of hospitals under administrative control of KMC to be on their toes to cope with any unpleasant situation.
He directed heads of different hospitals to make arrangements for rain emergency and ensure presence of doctors and paramedics around the clock. The concerned officials should keep their staff and machinery on stand by for rapid response to any untoward situation, he directed. Holidays of concerned officials and staff has been cancelled.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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