Three electrocuted as another rain spell floods city

KARACHI: The short but strong spell of monsoon rain on Wednesday turned the weather in the metropolis pleasant, but the usual accompanying factors were a cause of a lot of unpleasantness for the citizens.

Three people were electrocuted as the roads and streets across the city were flooded with rainwater, which also caused widespread traffic jams, while many localities were subjected to unannounced electricity outages.

Although no rain forecast for the metropolis was announced by the Met Office, Landhi received the most of it at 55 millimetres, while only 5mm of it was recorded at the PAF Base Masroor.

“A monsoon system hovering over southern Sindh reactivated today [on Wednesday] and caused short but some strong spells of rains in Karachi,” said Met Office Karachi Director Abdul Rashid.

“It is expected to cause more rains in the city until Thursday evening. A fresh rain advisory will be issued after observing the weather conditions.”

The Met Office said 24mm of rain was recorded at the Karachi Airport, 19mm in North Nazimabad, 15mm in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, 13mm in Federal B Area and 9mm in North Karachi.

Citizens were stuck in snarls-up on different roads as many left their workplaces for home earlier than usual because of the rain. Major jams occurred at Sharea Faisal, University Road, MA Jinnah Road, Rashid Minhas Road and Shahrah-e-Pakistan, where traffic police officials were seen trying to alleviate the situation.

Electrocution

Three people, including two teenage girls, died of electrocution in different parts of the city, said police and rescue services. They said some people were also injured in rain-related incidents and were taken to different hospitals.

In Block-F of North Nazimabad, 22-year-old Qari Aamir was electrocuted near the Ziauddin Hospital and 14-year-old Azra Muhammad Nazuk inside her house near the Fateh Park. Seventeen-year-old Neha Ismail was electrocuted in Orangi Town’s Gulshan-e-Bihar locality.

Power outages

Many areas of the city suffered prolonged power outages. Hundreds of K-Electric feeders tripped as soon as the rain started, depriving many areas of the commodity.

Outages were reported in Gulshan-e-Maymar, Sohrab Goth, the Abul Hasan Ispahani Road area, many blocks of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, various parts of Malir, the airport locality, Model Colony and different sectors and blocks of Landhi and Korangi.

Breakdowns were also reported in Garden, Ramaswami, Lasbela, Clifton, Sher Shah, Pak Colony, Lyari, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad and different sectors of New Karachi.

Many areas in the Central and East districts remained without electricity until the filing of this report. However, a KE spokesman claimed that their teams were doing the rounds to make sure the power supply system remained intact.

He said the KE’s rapid response teams were available to restore any disruption in electricity supply, adding that around 100 of the total 1,600 feeders of the power utility were affected.

“Restoration work was initiated immediately by the emergency response teams and the affected feeders were swiftly restored. KE helpline and ground teams continue to work round the clock to address localised faults.”

The company urged the people to stay away from broken wires, power poles and transformers during rainy and windy weather. The utility also urged the people to refrain from using illegal power connections.  

Suspended

On the orders of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Municipal Services Senior Director Masood Alam has been suspended for being absent from duty, reports Fasahat Mohiuddin.

The orders issued by the chief secretary said CM Shah had suspended Alam with immediate effect, adding that Alam’s headquarters would be at the Local Government & Housing Town Planning Department. “He will continue to draw his salary and allowances during his suspension.”

The notification said the storm-water drains across the city were supposed to be cleaned before the start of the monsoon season, adding that funds of Rs420 million were disbursed to the KMC for the purpose.

“Alam should have been here in the city. Instead, he has gone abroad and all the storm-water drains of the city are clogged. Municipal services are nil across the city.”

The statement added that during various news conferences, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar was made aware of Alam’s “corruption”, but the mayor failed to take any action against him or any other corrupt officer.

Sources at the CM House said a list of corrupt KMC officers was being prepared because the chief executive had made it clear that he wanted to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for corruption.