12 die as heavy rain batters Karachi

KARACHI: At least 12 people died in multiple incidents after heavy rain hit different parts of Karachi , Geo News reported Sunday.

Heavy rain with thunderstorm lashed Defence, Clifton, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Malir, Gulshan, Landhi, Shah Latif Town, Korangi, Soldier Bazar, Manghopir, Nazimabad, New Karachi, Surjani Town and other areas.

According to TV report, at least 12 people died of electrocution and other incidents in different areas during the rain. Three people lost their lives in DHA's Khayaban-e-Shahbaz due to electrocution.

 Almost all the major roads were inundated  with rain water while low-lying areas of the city were submerged due to continuous heavy showers. 

Authorities in the city have asked the citizens to stay away from power poles and remain indoors during the rain.

Army was also called in  for rescue in Saadi Town and  other adjoining areas.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited Korangi causeway earlier today where  he supervised a rescue operation   to  retrieve  stranded  commuters.

Weather update:

Karachi is likely to receive intermittent rain during the next 24  hours, said Met Office.

According to the weather advisory for Sunday, widespread rains/wind-thunderstorm is expected in Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Hyderabad, Karachi, Shaheed Benazirabad divisions, while at scattered places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sukkur, Larkana, Makran, Quetta, Zhob, Kalat, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala divisions, Islamabad, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, at isolated places in Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, D.G.Khan, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur divisions.

Isolated heavy falls are also expected in Lower Sindh (Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Hyderabad, Karachi, Shaheed Benazirabad divisions), Kalat, Zhob, Sibbi, Naseerabad divisions.

Power supply suspended:

The power utility has asked the city administration to 'declare a state of emergency' after 'uninterrupted torrential rainfall' over several hours has created 'a critical situation' in the metropolis.

"The city’s low-lying areas, such as Landhi, Ilyas Goth, Ibrahim Haideri, Majid Colony UC 4, Shah Faisal, Malir, Scheme 33, Rehri Goth and Korangi, which are prone to urban flooding, are yet again inundated.

"There are reports of water accumulating around power installations & entering homes. In the interest of public safety and based on requests received from the city administration, electricity supply to areas which are in a state of urban flooding, has been temporarily suspended."

Rainfall (mm) during Last 24 hrs:

Surjani 151, Gulshan-e-Hadeed 149, Jinnah AP 129, Faisal Base 121, Landhi 118, Model Observatory 112, Masroor Base 110, Nazimabad 109, Kemari 93, North Karachi 79.