Naimat Khan
KARACHI: Jawans of Pakistan Army kicked off rescue operations in seaside Pakistan metropolis of Karachi after the provincial and city governments failed to provide relief amid urban-flood in several parts of the city.
Several parts of the city were left inundated and various nullahs overflowed after rain lashed across the metropolis. According to a statement from the ISPR, Karachi city administration had asked for assistance from Pakistan Army.
Heavy downpour lashed Karachi for the second straight day as major road and low-lying areas were inundated and the life in the metropolitan city almost thrown out of gear.
At least 12 people including four children were killed in rain-related incidents in the city.
According to details, North Nazimabad, F.B Area, Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan–e-Ibqal, Shah Faisal Colony, MA Jinnah Road, II Chandrigar Road, North Karachi, Shadman Town, Guslshan-e-Hadeed, Shah Latif Town, Malir and other areas received heavy rain. There was thin attendance in offices whereas school and colleges remain closed due to fear of flooding.
Meanwhile, many areas of Karachi plunged into darkness as dozens of K-Electric feeders tripped due to heavy rain which started on Wednesday.
Heavy rains wreaked havoc in Karachi leaving five and several others critically injured as a result of electrocution in the early hours of Thursday.
A number of vehicles have also reportedly broken down on city streets because of water gathering due to inefficient drainage systems.
Hyderabad, Hub and Thatta and other parts of interior Sindh are also experiencing heavy rains, which are expected to continue until Friday, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
The Sindh government on Tuesday issued a weather warning, in which it has directed all district disaster management authorities, commissioners and deputy commissioners to ensure that all precautionary measures are taken to avoid any untoward situation as well adopt an effective response mechanism, including issuing an early warning for flash floods.
The direction, through a “most urgent” letter, was issued in connection with a weather warning issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The PMD had intimated, “A strong monsoon weather system from India is heading towards Sindh and is likely to enter south-east Sindh on Tuesday evening.”
A day earlier, the Pakistan meteorological department – the national weather forecasting centre – predicted widespread rain and thunderstorm associated with gusty winds in lower Sindh, including the seaside metropolis of Karachi, from tomorrow till Friday.
Met-Office informed that strong monsoon currents are likely to continue penetrating in southern parts of the country, while moderate currents are also expected to enter upper parts and Kashmir from Tuesday to Friday.
Under the influence of this weather system, the advisory Met office Karachi issued here on Monday stated, widespread rain/thunderstorm associated with gusty winds (isolated heavy to very heavy falls) is expected in lower Sindh (Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Karachi divisions) and at scattered places in Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Kalat, Quetta, Sibbi, Zhob and Naseerabad divisions from Wednesday to Friday.
“Rain-thunderstorm is also expected at scattered places in Bahawalpur, Multan, D.G. Khan and Sahiwal divisions, while at isolated places in Hazara, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha and Lahore divisions, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on Wednesday/Thursday,” it further reads.
According to met office rain-thunderstorm is expected at scattered places in Hazara, Malakand, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, D.I. Khan, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Lahore divisions, Islamabad, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during Friday and Saturday.
