KARACHI: Saturday night’s heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunder and lightning, caused chaos in Karachi. The downpour, compounded by sewage overflow from clogged lines, inundated houses and hospitals in the port city. Affected areas included Baldi Town, Orangi Town, North Karachi, Surjani Town, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Bahria Town, Saddar, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, and others.
Despite the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) one-day prior forecast of heavy rain, the city administration took no measures to address the situation. As a result, major arteries in Karachi were submerged, trapping commuters in their vehicles. Roads, including MA Jinnah Road and I.I. Chundrigar Road, faced challenges due to accumulated water mixed with sewage.
Following the rainfall, power outages plunged various parts of the city, including North Nazimabad, into darkness. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab cautioned residents against unnecessary outdoor activities, revealing that some water pumping stations had ceased operations. He directed district municipal corporations to ensure rainwater drainage from roads.
In addition to affecting low-lying areas, rainwater entered houses in the upscale Defense View, causing damage to furniture and valuable belongings. Despite the PMD’s predictions, the interim Sindh government failed to implement measures, leading to sewage entering medical facilities like the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.
Statistics from the weather department indicated significant rainfall in different areas, with the highest recorded in Baldia Town (64mm), Surjani Town (62mm), and others. K-Electric, the city’s electricity distributor, advised citizens to take precautions during the rainy season, emphasizing the risks of broken wires and electrical equipment.
The Met Office reported a westerly wave affecting the country, forecasting rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall in various regions. Karachi had been anticipated to receive heavy rainfall on February 3 and 4, as per the earlier PMD announcement. Notably, multiple areas in Karachi had experienced light to moderate rain the preceding Friday.
