CM orders all relevant depts to be prepared for next rain spell

Sindh’s chief minister has said that although the current rain spell is ending, the next one beginning on August 11 requires all the relevant departments, including the local government in the urban areas and the irrigation department in the rural areas, to be prepared to protect lives, crops and other properties through timely and precautionary measures.

At the outset of the meeting that Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired at the CM House on Sunday, Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz mentioned the prediction of above-average rains for this month, especially in Sindh and Balochistan, with over 50 per cent probability.

Sarfaraz said that nine per cent below average rains were received across Pakistan last month, adding that Sindh received 44 per cent below average rains.

He said that the heavy rain spell would subside by August 6, adding that the next spell is likely from August 11 to 13, while moderate to heavy rains are expected again on August 18, 20 and 21.

He told the meeting that August is likely to be wetter overall, while September rains might also be above average, according to the weather outlook.

The weather warning shared in the meeting stated that widespread winds with thunderstorms or rains with few heavy or very heavy falls are likely to continue in the Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Kashmore, Larkana, Dadu, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki, Sukkur, Sanghar, Matiari, Jamshoro, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Khairpur districts until August 6.

Thunderstorms or rains with a few moderate to isolated heavy falls are likely in the Hyderabad, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal and Tharparkar districts, as well as in the Karachi division in the coming days.

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab told the meeting that there are 207 vulnerable points in the city that can witness urban flooding: 56 in District South, 38 in District East, 32 in District Malir, 26 in District Keamari, 22 in District Central, 17 in District West and 16 in District Korangi.

Wahab said that in case of heavy rains, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) would install dewatering pumps at different locations, such as the Merewether Tower, the Governor House, Nursery, Star Gate, Jinnah Terminal and KDA Chowrangi, and standby at the KMC head office and the Liaquatabad Underpass.

Relief & Rehabilitation Minister Makhdoom Mahboob said the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has provided dewatering pumps for critical points, such as Falaknaz, Allahwala Town, Qayyumabad, Bilal Chowrangi, Ghareebabad, the Nazimabad Underpass, the Liaquatabad Underpass, Sakhi Hassan Chowrangi, Nagan Chowrangi, Sohrab Goth, Jauhar Chowrangi, Nursery, the National Stadium, University Road, the KPT Underpass, Shaheen Complex, the Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation, the Sindh Assembly, the Submarine Underpass, the Merewether Tower, Yousuf Goth, 4K Chowrangi, Native Jetty and Gulbai.

Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro provided an update on the Indus River, saying that the water level at the Guddu Barrage is low. He mentioned that there is a possibility of hill torrents flowing into the Hamal Lake, then into the Manchhar Lake, but at present, both lakes are at normal levels.

Irrigation Secretary Zareef Khero said the Manchhar Lake has only received 0.4 feet of water, which is not expected to have a significant impact. The CM instructed the irrigation department to closely monitor the water levels in the Hamal and Manchhar lakes due to heavy rains in Balochistan.

The CM also directed the irrigation secretary to assign the relevant officers to the Manchhar Lake to ensure proper discharge of water into the Indus River if the water level there exceeds a certain threshold.

He directed the irrigation department to be on alert in the areas of the Left Bank Outfall Drain so that the water can be discharged through the recently restored natural waterways.

He also asked for reports on the current rain spell from the commissioners who attended the meeting via videoconferencing. He instructed the commissioners to timely dispose of stagnant rainwater from the low-lying areas through pumping machines because another rain spell is imminent.

He also directed the commissioners and mayors to keep sending him daily reports on drainage issues and their resolutions. He mentioned that he might visit any area in the province in case the situation worsens.

The meeting was also attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon and Saeed Ghani, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, LG Secretary Khalid Hyder Shah, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh and PDMA Director General Salman Shah, while the divisional commissioners attended the meeting via videoconferencing.