Rain emergency imposed across Karachi

The authorities in Karachi imposed rain emergency in the megacity after second day of heavy downpour on Sunday which triggered urban flooding, massive traffic jams and rolling blackouts, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Heavy rain lashing Karachi and its suburbs since Saturday evening paralyzed routine life as water accumulated not only in low-lying areas but also on main roads led to traffic jams in different areas of the port city.

Scores of cars were left stranded on the road connecting Shan Chowrangi to Godam Chowrangi, resulting in a worst traffic congestion.

At some places, even ambulances got stuck in traffic jams.

Even main arteries of the city such as Shah Faisal, Stadium Road, MA Jinnah Road and Nishtar Road turned into pools of water.  

The absence of drainage system made matters worse. Water from Malir stream spilled over onto the road.

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At the same time, over 120 feeders were tripped, plunging a large part of the city into darkness.

The areas from where power breakdown was reported included Malir, Model Colony, North Karachi, Surjani Town, Mangho Pir, Orangi and Nusrat Bhutto Colony.

Even Karachi airport was not safe from the effects of the rain as water started dripping from the roof of the airport’s departure lounge.

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Rain emergency imposed in Karachi

Cancelling the leaves of all employees of the engineering department, Karachi Development Authority (KDA) Director General (DG) Naveed Anwar Siddiqui imposed a state of emergency in the megacity.

The DG directed all executive engineers to remain in the field. He said that special instructions had been issued to the KDA staffers to remain prepared to deal with any kind of situation.

He has also hinted at taking action against the staff found negligent.

The DG said that all resources were being utilized for the drainage of water from low-lying areas. 

Students get stuck on Sher Shah Suri Road

Dozens of students of a private university were stranded on Sher Shah Road after they faced difficulties in crossing the rainwater mixed with sewage.

Consequently, they had to take refuge in a building.

Breach develops in Hub Canal

Water supply from Hub Canal to the city was suspended temporarily after the downpour resulted in the development of a breach in the canal.

On the other hand, the concerned officials said that it would take 72 hours to plug the breach.

Water Corporation Board’s spokesman urged people to use water judiciously.

Water accumulated in, around Civil Hospital

The rainwater accumulated inside as well outside the Civil Hospital turned the area into a pond.

Same was the situation at the city’s other hospitals.

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36-inch long sewerage line caves in

The administration had to wake up from its slumber after a 36-inch long sewerage line caved in on a stretch of Sher Shah Suri Road.

The concerned officials ran from pillar to post to plug a 12-feet long and six-feet wide breach.  

Roads cave in in Garden, Liaquatabad areas

Roads in two localities of the city, Liaquatabad and Garden, could not sustain the water pressure and eventually caved in.

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Mayor visits city’s affected areas 

In order to assess the situation, Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited affected areas of the city and ordered that steps should be taken on a war footing to drain out the rainwater.

Caretaker Sindh chief minister also telephoned the mayor and received updates from him on the latest situation.

Rain and snowfall in Punjab, KP cities 

Slow and heavy rain was reported all across Pakistan from Punjab to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to Karachi and more downpour was expected during the next 24 hours.

Lahore city and its suburbs received sporadic rain on Saturday night and continued on Sunday which lowered the temperature. The Met department said westerly wave was affecting Balochistan and upper Sindh and Punjab which will continue during next 24 hours.

Cold/cloudy weather with rain as well as snowfall was reported at mountains in Murree, Galyat and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s mountains.

On Sunday rain-wind thunderstorm is expected in Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, Kasur, Mandi Bahauddin, Faisalabad, Jhang, Nankana Sahib, Sahiwal, Okara, Mianwali, Khushab, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Khanpur and Rahim Yar Khan.

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Rain was also reported in various cities of Sindh including Jamshoro, Hyderabad and Kotri.

Lahore’s minimum temperatures remained between 06-08 degrees Celsius on Saturday and 07-09 C on Sunday. Murree remained the coldest place in the province where mercury dropped 3C below freezing. Relative humidity during the evening was recorded at 55 per cent.

Rain also continued in various cities of Balochistan on Saturday. Due to heavy rain, Mirani dam filled with water. In Turbat, many houses made of mud were reported to be collapsed and a man died of lightning in Khuzdar.

Rain was reported in Quetta, Khuzdar, Qalaat, Lasbila, Sibi and other areas of the province. More rain is expected across the country.

Reporters: Shoaib Mukhtar, Faheem Siddiqui, Kawish Memon, Rizwan Ahmad, Aajiz Jamali, Baseem Iftikhar, Hamna Nisar, Jawad Asif, Mumtaz Jamali, Faran Khan, Ashraf Khan and Fatima