Karachi continues to receive heavy rains in several areas since Tuesday morning, which caused power outages throughout the city, since the Traffic Police advised citizens to take precautionary measures.
An update of the Karachi Traffic Police at 3:37 PM warned about the slow movement through the following key roads of the city:
- South District: Capri Chowk-Numaish Chowrangi, Liaquat Highway, Baba Urdu Chowk, Ma Jinnah Road, Faisal Awari Tower-FTC, II Chundarigar Road, Fawara Chowk, dense Hall, Abdullah Haroon Road
- Eastern District: Bahadurabad, Paf Bridge-City, University Road
- Central District: Lasbela Chowk, Nipa-Sir Syed University, Guru Mandir, Jamshed Road, Jahangir Road
- District West: Gulbai Chowk, Lakdi Godi, Dabba Mor, PTC Gate
- District Malir: National Highway, Jinnah Avenue Road
The traffic police advised citizens to take precautionary measures in the light of the situation, such as avoiding sudden braking, maintaining a slow speed and safe distance from other vehicles on the road.
The images showed main roads and arteries of the city submerged under water with stuck traffic.
The chief secretary of Sindh, Asif Haider, Shah, directed the District Administration, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority of Sindh (PDMA), the Department of Health, and Rescue 1122 to remain on a maximum alert in the midst of the situation.
He ordered the immediate drainage of rainwater and instructed the relevant administrations to remain in contact with the Pakistan Department of Meteorology (PMD) and the PDMA.
“All attached commissioners must be present in the field with their staff,” said the main secretary.
Separately, PMD, in a weather warning, predicted intermittent rains to continue throughout the day.
The minimum temperature is expected to remain at 28 degrees Celsius, while moisture will be 85 percent.
ACCORDING TO THE MET OFFICE, AS OF 2PM, NAZIMABAD REkly Town 24mm, PAF Masroor Base (23mm), PAF Base Faisal 17MM, Defense Housing Authority (DHA) Phase VII 15 mm, Korangi 14.6 mm, old area of the 13 mm airport, gulshan-i-maymar 11 mm, Met Office University Road 9 mm and Bahria Town 4.8 mm.
A PMD time forecast at 4pm predicted “torrential rains” in Sindh and Baluchistan parts in the next few days.
“The strong monzónic currents of the Arabic sea and Bengal Bay are continuously penetrating the country, especially the southern parts,” said the PMD.
It added that under the influence of the above, Widespraad Rain-Wind/Thundershower (with scattred heavy falls, at Times Vary Heavy) were Expecta In Mithi, Tharparkar, Uurkot, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Karachi, Thatta, Thatta, Thatta, Thatta, Thatta, Thatta, Thatta Badin, Sajawal, Tando Allayar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Sanghar, Jamshoro, and in dispersed places in Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur and Jacobabad from August 19 to 22 with occasional gaps.
The PMD said that rain/Thundershower (with strong scattered falls) in Barkhan, Musakhel, Lorealai, Sibbi, Zhob, Qilla Saifullah, Khuzdar, Lasbella, Awaran, Kech, Gwadar and Panjgur of August 19-22 with occasional victims.
It added that subdued rain-wind/thundershower were Expecta At isolated places in Islamabad, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Rawalpindi, Attock, Murree/Galliyat, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, Dera Ghazi Khan, fine, Rajanpur, Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi from August 19 to 22.
The PMD warned that torrential rains can cause urban floods in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Sajawal, Tharparkar, Uurkot, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tando Allayar, Tando Mufammad Khan, Sanghar and Jamshoro of August 19-22.
He also warned that torrential rains can generate sudden floods in the north/southeast parts of Baluchistan from August 19 to 22.
He advised all authorities to remain alert and take the necessary measures to avoid any unpleasant situation.
A previous day, Sindh’s Prime Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over an emergency meeting to supervise the preparations for monsoon rains.
A press release from his office said that CM Shah put all local agencies, the administration and traffic police on the maximum alert, and directed them to strengthen coordination between the relevant departments and organizations.
Declared emergency rain
According to a notification of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), the mayor of Karachi, Murtaza Wahab, has declared an emergency of rain in the city.
The notification added that “he canceled all types of (license), including weekly holidays”, for the departments of essential services, which directed them to remain available.
He also directed the municipal services, the KMC Fire Brigade and Rescue Departments (Use) of KMC to establish a rain emergency cell, coordinating with all the essential services departments.
On the instructions of the Deputy Inspector of the Eastern Zone of Karachi (DIG) Dr. Farrukh Ali, the East Zone Police is on a maximum alert to deal with the possible effects of the rains, DIG cell cell in a statement said.
“Clear orders have been issued to all SDPO (subdivisional police officers) and Shos (officers of the station house) to remain present in their respective areas, guarantee drainage, traffic flow and take immediate measures to treat any emergency,” the statement said.
He added that the excavation had instructed that the protection of life and the property of citizens should be guaranteed at all costs, paying special attention to low areas. Rescue equipment and aid line must be kept active, and timely orientation and assistance must be provided to the public.
The DIG declaration also appealed to citizens to avoid unnecessary movement during bad weather, advising them to contact 15 or the closest police station immediately in case of emergency.
“The police are with the public at all times in all climates,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Transit Police said in another statement that Rainwater had accumulated within Nazimabad’s underground passage, which caused traffic to deviate over the underground step in Hakim Ibne Sina Road.
The spokesman, Saeed Arain, said that “there is no traffic problem,” saying: “The Traffic Police is present and manages the traffic flow.”
He asked citizens to be caution while traveling, guiding them to the traffic police aid line in 1915 for the Central District.
The rains of the monsoon fall throughout the region from June to September, offering a breath of summer heat and are crucial to replenish water supplies. However, strong holes also trigger urban floods, mortal floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable areas, poorly drained or densely populated.
