At least 5 killed as heavy rain lashes Karachi; city administration declares emergency has drawn attention as part of the latest developments being reported. Below is a cleaned summary based on the feed item.
KARACHI: At least five people were killed on Thursday as heavy rain lashed the metropolis, while the city administration declared an emergency. According to police and rescue officials, the deaths occurred in separate incidents; four people died due to electrocution while a fifth was killed due to a crumbling building amid the heavy rainfall. Site Superhighway Industrial Area Police Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammed Nawaz told Dawn that Shahabuddin, 40, was trying to fix an electrical issue in Ahsanabad when he suffered an electric shock and died. He said the deceased was believed to be an employee of K-Electric. PIB Colony police SHO Rana Mohammed Ajmal said that a 35-yer-old man, Abdul Waleed, died when he touched an electric pole near Faizan Milad Masjid. Surjani Police SHO Sohail Khaskheli told Dawn that 7-year old Dua Batool Sarfraz was killed when she suffered an electric shock inside her home in Sector-7-A. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Edhi Foundation said in a statement that a 23-year-old man, Sartaj, was electrocuted inside his home in Hasan Brohi Goth near Bashir Chowk. Separately, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan told Dawn that heavy rains adversely affected the structure of a three-storey building near Bismillah Hotel in Pak Colony. The wall of the second floor collapsed, trapping a passerby under the debris. The rescue team retrieved the man from the rubble and took him to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. Heavy rainfall Karachiites in various areas witnessed light showers in the morning, with most localities reporting torrential rainfall shortly after 2pm. According to the official data, the highest rainfall was recorded in Nazimabad (Paposh Nagar) at 69.6 millimetres, followed by Kemari with 56mm and Saadi Town with 48mm. Meanwhile, other notable areas included University Road at 44.2mm, Bahria Town at 43.5mm, and Orangi Town at 39.4mm. Gulshan-e-Maymar recorded 36.0mm, while Jinnah Terminal and Surjani Town each received 35.0mm. The Old Area Airport recorded 32.6mm, Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase II 33.0mm, and PAF Faisal Base 30.4mm. Lower amounts were observed in North Karachi with 28.8mm, PAF Masroor Base 29.0mm, Korangi 18.2mm, and Gulshan-0-Hadeed 17.0mm. A PMD official said a hailstorm was reported from the Mauripur area of the metropolis. A K-Electric spokesperson, in a statement, said: “As a safety measure, power supply may be temporarily suspended in some areas; it is restored after rain subsides and clearance from field teams [has been received].” In a later update, the KE spokesperson said, “After heavy rain and hailstorm, KE’s power distribution system remains stable; uninterrupted electricity supply continues from around 2,000 out of over 2,100 feeders.” He said that at the rainfall’s peak, around 500 feeders were affected, adding that the number was swiftly reversed as soon as rain stopped. Karachi mayor says situation has ‘improved’ Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, in a video message on his X account, said he had been visiting various of the city with his city throughout the day and the rainwater situation had now “improved”. “It’s around 8:15pm … and traffic flow is normal at all major arteries. All 14 underpasses are also open for traffic,” he said, adding that his team had received complaints of traffic flow disruptions from some areas earlier in the day, which had been addressed. He said the Met Office had forecast another “major” rain spell between 9pm and 12am, appealing to people not to step out unnecessarily and exercise caution during this time. “We are in the field and the city administration is [prepared] to tackle any situation,” he assured. Earlier in the day, Karachi Traffic Police reported multiple waterlogged roads and significant traffic disruptions across the city following heavy rainfall. Main Sharea Faisal, from Nursery towards Baloch Colony, was reported to be closed, with vehicles diverted via Allah Wali Chowrangi. Slow-moving traffic was also reported on Agha Khan Road between Tanker Chowrangi and Garden Chowk in both directions, while the stretch from the airport towards the city on main Sharea Faisal experienced congestion due to water accumulation. Boat Basin towards the Submarine Underpass had been partially closed for light traffic, and Jinnah Avenue from Tank Chowk to Malir Halt faced slow traffic compounded by potholes, the department said. Authorities also issued alternative routes to ease travel for motorists. Citizens travelling from FTC to the airport via Sindhi Muslim or Shahrah-i-Quaid-i-Azam were advised to use the route via Allah Wali Chowrangi, Tariq Road, Ittihad Light Signal, and Char Minar Chowrangi towards Aga Khan Hospital. Those travelling from Baloch Colony via Karsaz were advised to use Stadium Road, Dalmia, Millennium, Johar Mor, Johar Chowrangi, and Phelwan Goth towards ASF Headquarters, while commuters from Drigh Road to FTC were asked to take Karsaz, Stadium Road, and Bahadurabad-Char Minar route. Other recommended diversions included Millennium Mall and Stadium Road for those on National Stadium Road, Char Minar Chowrangi via National Stadium Road or Korangi Road for travellers from Jail Flyover, Johar Mor and Stadium Road for commuters from NIPA Chowrangi, and Akhtar Colony routes for those on Star Gate or Korangi Road. Commuters from Liaquatabad No.10 to University Road were advised to take Sahiba Akhtar Road via 13-D Zia Colony, Mochi Mor, and R.B. Medical to reach Gulshan Chowrangi, while those travelling from Meteorology to Malir were recommended to travel via Samama, Johar Chowrangi, Habib University, and ASF Headquarters. Weather forecast In a weather advisory for Karachi Division, the PMD forecast cloudy weather with “intermittent rain/wind-thunderstorm with few moderate to isolated heavy falls” for Thursday. The maximum temperature was likely to remain between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius, with humidity levels ranging between 60-83 per cent during the day. On Friday, Karachi Division is expected to see partly cloudy weather with “chances of light rain/drizzle”, with mostly sunny skies forecasted on Saturday, when mercury can hit 30-32°C during the day. According to a statement issued by his office, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) staff to remain alert. “Besides the deployed staff, rapid response teams have also been formed. If further needed, staff will be dispatched to the relevant locations,” the mayor was quoted as saying. A statement issued by the KMC spokesperson said the authority’s staff would remain stationed at eight nullahs and 12 choking points to monitor the situation. Rain emergency declared in Karachi A rain emergency was declared in Karachi in view of the rain situation. Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi said the city administration had activated measures to deal with the rainfall, adding that citizens could contact the rescue helpline at 1299 for any complaints or assistance. The staff of relevant institutions had been deployed under the supervision of assistant commissioners, he added. He said that the staff of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) and the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB), town administrations, and necessary machinery and vehicles were active. “They will perform relief work and grievance redressal duties, including helping in water drainage traffic problems,” he said. To deal with the rainfall, all deputy commissioners were directed to remain alert, and concerned officers to stay in the field. In addition, rain emergency help desks and camps were established in various districts and subdivisions at the instructions of the commissioner. In District East, help desks had been established at Nipa Chowrangi, National Stadium, Exhibition Chowrangi, Samama Chowk, Madras Chowk, Safoora Chowrangi and Sohrab Goth. In District South, help desks had been established at MA Jinnah Road, Shaheen Complex Chowk, KMT Main Office, Town Administration Lyari Office, Chakiwara and other areas. In District Keamari, they were placed in Baldia Town Office, the Keamari DC’s office, Truck Stand Mauripur and Gulberg Interchange Site. In District Central, water pumps had been deployed at Ayesha Manzil and other places in the Gulberg sub-division, while arrangements were being made for more. Further, the Sindh government appealed to citizens to exercise caution during rainy weather. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that, in view of the rains, advance arrangements had been made and the leaves of essential staff had been cancelled. Additional de-watering pumps had been installed for the timely drainage of rainwater from low-lying areas, he said, while drainage chokepoints at various locations in the city had already been identified. Staff had been deployed to monitor these chokepoints, he added. “The officers of the relevant provincial government institutions and local government institutions have been instructed to remain in the field on high alert,” he added. Memon asked citizens to follow precautionary measures and contact the relevant institutions immediately in case of an emergency. Separately, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) established rain emergency centres in all its regional offices including in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, adding they would remain in place till April 8. According to a handout issued by the Sindh information ministry, Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said SBCA officers would remain in the field and ensure the monitoring of dilapidated buildings. In the statement, SCBA Director General Muzamil Hussain Halepoto urged residents to vacate weak and old buildings, and to avoid going near under-construction structures. Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho also directed police control rooms to remain on high alert, adding that full contact should be maintained with rescue agencies to deal with emergency situations.
Why this matters
This update matters because kARACHI: At least five people were killed on Thursday as heavy rain lashed the metropolis, while the city administration declared an emergency.
Source: Original report
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