Two killed as strong winds uproot trees across city

Strong winds blew in Karachi on Friday owing to a weather system developing in the Arabian Sea that may turn into a cyclonic storm. However, no significant rain occurred in the city after the early hours of Friday.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Surjani Town received the maximum rainfall at 127.6 millimetres (mm) in the early hours of the day. Rain was recorded at 10.7mm in DHA Phase II, 46mm in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, 45.2mm in Nazimabad, 42mm in Keamari, 38mm in PAF Faisal Base, 36.3mm in Korangi, 32.9mm in North Karachi, 32.8mm on University Road, 29.5mm in Quaidabad, 29.4mm in Old Airport, 26mm in Gulshan-e-Maymar, 25.5mm in PAF Masroor Base, 25.4mm at Jinnah Terminal, 18.8mm in Orangi Town and 12.1mm in Gadap in the wee hours of Friday.

On Friday afternoon, Surjani Town and PAF Faisal Base received slight rain that was recorded to be 2mm. The rest of the city received only trace amounts.

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab visited various areas of the city on Thursday night and Friday after the cyclone warning and heavy rainfall prediction by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority.

The PMD on Friday said that the deep depression, which is slowly progressing towards the Arabian Sea from India's Rann of Kutch, is now 120 kilometres southeast of the port city. According to the PMD, this deep depression — a very strong low-pressure area — is expected to keep moving west-southwestward along Sindh's coastal belt.

It further stated that it lies around Latitude 23.8 N & Longitude 66.6 E at about 120km south of Karachi, 180 southwest of Thatta, 250km southeast of Ormara and 440km east-southeast of Gwadar.

The low pressure area may further intensify into a cyclonic storm upon entering the Arabian Sea by today afternoon or evening, if environmental conditions remain favourable, the PMD said in its latest cyclone alert.

PMD Director General Mehar Sahibzada Khan said in a press conference that the cyclone namely Asna brewed off the Karachi-Gwadar coast which may result in heavy rainfalls after hitting western coastal areas.

"Cyclones usually advance from sea to land but Asna's advancement is vice versa [...] It will intensify into a hurricane whose impacts will be seen in the next week," he added. "Our country is receiving more than usual downpours due to this cyclone. Upper areas of the country will experience more rain from September 2 to 4."

Mehar predicted that the weather conditions would improve in southern areas after two days. According to the Met Office, winds in Karachi continued blowing from the northeast direction at a speed of 22 kilometres per hour.

The weather system persists and the PMD has warned of likely heavy rainfall in various areas of Sindh under the influence of the potential cyclonic storm till today (Saturday).

The regions that may receive heavy rains include Karachi division, Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Tandu Muhammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu and Shaheed Benazirabad.

Additionally, heavy downpours are expected in the Hub, Lasbela, Awaran, Kech, and Gwadar districts of Balochistan on August 31 and September 1 with occasional gaps.

Heavy rains may cause waterlogging or and flooding in low lying areas of the Sindh-Makran coast while sea conditions are likely to remain rough with squally winds blowing with the speed of 60 to 70 kilometres per hour.

The PMD has advised the fishermen in Sindh to avoid venturing into the sea till August 31 and those of Balochistan till September 1. Residents of the southern areas of the two provinces have also been advised to avoid unnecessary movement.

Three deaths

The blustery weather on Friday claimed the lives of a woman and young man in Karachi as trees fell on them due to strong winds.

One of the incidents took place near the Bait-ul-Mukarram Masjid on University Road where a tree fell on a woman, killing her. Following the accident, rescue workers from different welfare organisations reached the scene and transported the casualty to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where the deceased woman was identified as fourty-five-year-old Shamim Bibi.

The deceased woman was a panhandler, a spokesperson for the Rescue 1122 service said, adding that she was passing by when a tree suddenly fell on her due to the strong winds, causing her to die on the spot.

In the other incident, a young man was killed after a tree fell on him near Peoples Chowrangi in the Jamshed Quarters area. The body was transported to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. The deceased man appeared to be around 25 years old and is yet to be identified. The Rescue 1122 spokesperson said that at least two more incidents of trees getting uprooted occurred in Karachi on Friday. A tree was uprooted due to strong winds in Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block 10. In Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 17 near the City Warden’s office, a tree fell on power lines, causing disruption in the traffic flow.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old man, Muhammad Sameer, died from electrocution while working in a house located in Korangi No 6. His body was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and later handed over to the family.

Mayor’s visit

During his visit to various parts of the city to inspect rain preparations, Wahab said false propaganda was being spread regarding accumulation of rainwater on Rashid Minhas Road, Nipa Chowrangi, Tariq Road, and Sharea Faisal after continuous rain in the city on Thursday.

He maintained that all major roads of Karachi were clear with the issue of accumulated rainwater persisting only in a few low-lying areas and inner streets, which was being addressed. He added that while critics of city government may continue with their unfair criticism, all municipal representatives would remain on the streets to assist the public.

He said that before the rains, discussions had been held with the town chairmen regarding drainage work so that all the civic agencies could work together to ensure that people were assisted during the rains. “Those who ruled the city in the past did nothing for it,” Wahab said, adding that now the people of Karachi must be given the hope that a better future was ahead. Accompanying the mayor were his spokesperson for political affairs Karamullah Waqasi, Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation Chief Operating Officer Engineer Asadullah Khan and KMC officers.

Wahab visited Rashid Minhas Road, Nipa Chowrangi, Tariq Road, Sharea Faisal, Shaheed-e-Millat Road, Shahrah-e-Quaideen, and other roads and drains to review the situation after the rain. Speaking to the media on the occasion, the mayor explained that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) was responsible for 106 roads in the city and the inner streets fell under the jurisdiction of the respective towns.

He maintained that during the rains, KMC staff and municipal representatives had been working in their respective areas and people could see them on ground.

He said some people tried to spread propaganda suggesting that there was significant water on Rashid Minhas Road to the extent that boats might be needed. He clarified that in reality, there was no such situation and traffic was moving normally on Rashid Minhas Road.

He added that similarly no rainwater had been accumulated on Sharea Faisal, and traffic was flowing smoothly on the vital thoroughfare. Wahab stated that In the past, the Shahrah-e-Quaideen drain used to overflow during the rains, affecting the surrounding area but the situation had improved now.

He said some people had falsely claimed that Tariq Road was looking like a river or flood zone, but there was no water accumulated there either. He added that the situation had improved due to the KMC's pre-emptive cleaning of drains. Some water was present near the cemetery on Tariq Road due to a low-lying spot, but it was being drained promptly, he said. “All the city's underpasses are clear,” Wahab stated.