Three die in Karachi as heavy rain continues to batter Sindh

At least three people died in rain-related incidents in Karachi as intermittent light to moderate rain continued in parts of the city on Wednesday. A minor also died in a roof collapse in Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, many districts of Sindh announced school holidays on account of the prediction of heavy rains today (Thursday). The Karachi commissioner, however, issued a clarification that schools would remain open in the provincial capital.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the maximum rain in Karachi on Wednesday was recorded in Surjani Town at 30 millimetres (mm).

The rainfall was recorded at 20mm in Nazimabad, 11.5mm in Quaidabad, 5mm in Korangi, 9mm on University Road, 18.5mm in Keamari, 4.8mm in DHA Phase II, and 6.2mm in airport.

PAF Faisal Base received 10mm of rain, Gulshan-e-Maymar 9.9mm, Gadap 3.7mm, Saddar 11mm, North Karachi 12.2mm, and Orangi Town 13.1mm of rain.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority has predicted widespread heavy rain/ wind-thunderstorms in Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad districts, and Karachi division till August 31 with occasional gaps.

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab and Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) Chief Operating Officer Engineer Asadullah Khan visited the Clifton Pumping Station on Wednesday to inspect the drainage work.

Wahab said the water corporation staff was busy draining rainwater from the roads. Heavy machinery, including the KWSC’s suction and jetting machines, was being used to clear rainwater from all major highways in the city, he remarked, adding that drainage work was under way on Sharea Faisal, Shahrah-e-Pakistan, Shahrah-e-Quaideen, Rashid Minhas Road, and other thoroughfares.

Deaths in Karachi

An elderly couple lost their lives on Wednesday after the roof of their house in Gulshan-e-Maymar collapsed on top of them. A man and two buffaloes also died of electrocution in other rain-related incidents.

The roof collapse incident occurred in Afghan Basti during heavy rain in the early hours. The deceased were identified as Arz Sufi Khalij, 72, and his wife Agha Gul, 67. Their daughter was also injured in the incident.

Police said they were informed about the incident in the morning, adding that the couple were Afghan nationals. Officials said the bodies were handed over to the family after completing the legal formalities.

Separately, a man was electrocuted to death in Metroville, SITE. Police and rescue workers took him to the hospital. Police said the deceased is yet to be identified. Two buffaloes also died from electrocution at a dairy farm in Pipri, Bin Qasim Town. Police said that both the animals had died of electrocution during the rain.

Airport drips

Rainwater also reportedly seeped through the ceiling of the international departure lounge of the Jinnah International Airport, following which the airport administration used pails under the dripping spots.

According to reports, water also dripped from the ceilings of the walkway area and Gate No 22.

Sources within the Civil Aviation Authority said the building of the terminal had become old and they had earlier also made repair works to make its ceilings waterproof. They added that similar work would be carried out once the rain was over.

Other districts

Downpour continued across the lower parts of Sindh on Wednesday creating flooding in cities and towns.

In view of the prediction of heavy rainfall, the deputy commissioners of Hyderabad, Sanghar, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammd Kham, Jamshoro, Matiari, Badin and districs under the Mirpurkhas division announced that all schools and colleges would remain closed on Thursday.

The Met Office has predicted up to 300mm of rainfall in Sujawal and Thatta.

Due to continuous downpour, cities, including Sujawal, Badin, Kunri, Umerkot, Mithi, Hyderabad, Tando Jam, Hala, New Saeedabad, Tando Jam, Tando Adam, Sanghar and Mirpurkhas, suffered flooding.

Streams coming from the Kirthar hills have been adding water to the Manchar and Hamal lakes and road connections to several villages in Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Badin, and Sujawal districts have been severed due to the roads submerged by rainwater.

On the other side, medium floods have been passing from Dadu, Matiari, Jamshoro, and Hyderabad districts, and Katcha area residents have begun moving to embankments and safer places.

A spokesperson for Hesco, Muhammad Sadiq Kunbhar, said that of 629 feeders in the Hyderabad region, over 157 feeders had been affected.

Hyderabad city and its surroundings have been under the spell of monsoon for the past 48 hours. According to the Met Office, 31mm of rain had been recorded in Hyderabad from 8am on Tuesday till 5pm on Wednesday.

Due to intermittent light and heavy rains for two days, routine life has been affected in the city, Latifabad and Qasimabad.

The roof of a house collapsed due to rain in the Hyderabad Old Sabzi Mandi area, due to which a six-year-old minor died and four others were injured who were admitted to the Civil Hospital.

CM’s visit

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday visited coastal areas of the province to oversee precautionary measures there in view of the prediction of heavy rains.

He said there was a prediction of heavy rainfall in the coastal belt of the province and Jati in Thatta had received 52 millimetres (mm) of rain during the last three hours, that was why he had embarked on an extensive visit to monitor the situation and issue appropriate directives. He spoke to the media at different spots of Thatta, Sujawal, Badin and Tando Muhammad Khan.

He was accompanied by provincial ministers Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani and Jam Khan Shoro, and MPA Mukesh Chawla. Provincial ministers Ali Hassan Zardari and Mohammad Ali Malkani, and MPA Shah Hussain Shah received the CM in their respective areas.

Murad said the coastal belt of the province was expected to receive more rains. He added that the Kirthar mountainous range had been receiving rainfall which had increased the water level in the Manchhar Lake.

The CM told the media that he had activated the irrigation department for moving necessary machinery to strengthen embankments of the MNV drain and FP Bund.

To a question, he said the storm water drains had their maximum capacity cleared, but when the water exceeded their capacity, they would overflow and inundate the nearby areas. “We have been cleaning nullahs, outfall drains, and hopefully everything will remain under control,” he said and added that in case of any loss or damages, the affected people would be helped out.

The CM visited the Karo Gunro Outfall Drain System at RD-128 where Irrigation Minister Shoro and Irrigation Secretary Zarif Khero briefed him about the system.

It was said that the Karo Gunro Outfall System was a significant drainage project, primarily designed to manage and dispose of excess water from agricultural lands, particularly those in Tando Mohammad Khan, Badin and Sujawal.

The CM said that the system aimed to prevent waterlogging and salinity, which were major issues in the region due to the high water table and poor drainage.

The irrigation secretary assured the CM that the issues of the outfall system would be resolved.

During his visit to Badin, Murad inspected main roads of Badin city - Quaid-e-Azam Road and Civil Hospital Road, which were inundated. He was told that the Civil Hospital Nullah was overflowing due to the heavy rain. The CM directed the Badin deputy commissioner to ensure proper cleaning of the nullah soon after the rain stopped.

He told the media that he had sent Shoro to Badin to inspect the LBOD. "The water level in the outfall drains is above normal, while the rivers are experiencing low-level flooding," he said.

He added that his government, with the support of donor agencies, was constructing 2.1 million flood-resilient houses for those affected by the floods. "We are providing housing to 12.5 million flood-affected people," he stated.

To a question, Murad expressed concerns about the winding up of the Utility Stores Corporation. "Instead of withdrawing subsidies meant for the poor, the federal government should consider reducing the facilities provided to the elite," he remarked.

On his arrival at Tando Muhammad Khan, the CM was received by his special assistant Qasim Naveed, MPA Aijaz Shah and others. He went to the colony of flood-affected people where the government had constructed flood resilient houses.

He also offered condolences over the death of former PPP MPA Haji Amin Lakho with his son Sher Mohammad Lakho at his residence.

Earlier, the CM visited some areas of Karachi to see the rain preparations. In the Quaidabad area, he inspected the Malir River which was flowing normal. From there, he proceeded to Thatta along with his team of concerned officers. In Thatta, he noticed stagnant water in low-lying areas and municipal waste lying along roads.

The CM expressed his displeasure at this and directed the deputy commissioner to activate municipal administration and get the areas cleaned.