Three dead as heavy downpour cripples life in Karachi; Sindh govt declares rain emergency

(Karachi) At least three children died in different rain related incidents as heavy downpour pounded the metropolis on Tuesday. The current monsoon spell crippled normal life as rainwater accumulated on almost all thoroughfares creating hardship for citizens.

In view of the situation, the Sindh government has declared rain emergency in the province. According to the official statement, the leaves of all government department employees have been cancelled and those who are already on leave have been asked to report to their relevant department at the earliest.

As per details, rainfall that continued for hours wreaked havoc in Karachi as the city administration failed to drain out water from the streets. Several areas in the port city including Malir, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, Shah Faisal Colony, DHA, Mehmoodabad, Akhtar Colony, Clifton, Karsaz, Saddar, Orangi Town and other areas witnessed heavy rainfall with intermittent moderate showers.

According to data from the Met department, the highest amount of rainfall, 83 millimetres was recorded at Saddar, 72 millimetres at Gulshan-i-Hadeed while Nazimabad recorded 51.6mm, North Karachi 37mm, Surjani Town 25.6mm, Landhi 11.5mm, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Base Faisal 11mm, Jinnah Terminal 9.6mm while University Road received 8.8mm of rainfall.

Commuters faced immense problems as roads were flooded while several vehicles were submerged rainwater. At least 300 feeders of K-Electric tripped disrupting power supply to almost half of the city.

Meanwhile, three children lost their lives in rain related incidents. A 13-year-old boy drowned in a pond created by accumulated rainwater in Musharraf Colony, according to an Edhi rescue team. The body was later retrieved and taken to Murshid Hospital.

In another incident, a 17-year-old boy died due to electric shock in the Haroonabad area. His body was shifted to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi.

A 10-year-old boy was killed and his mother injured after a wall of their home collapsed during the rain. Police officials said the injured woman was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for treatment while the body of the child was also shifted to the hospital.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Sindh, dispatched relief goods to the rain-hit areas of Sindh province.

Relief goods — including food items, blankets water coolers, dewatering pumps and tents — were sent to provide relief to the people hit by the torrential rains.

According to PDMA, 200 water coolers, 1000 tents and 200 kitchen sets have been provided to the Tharparkar district administration, while district Badin received 13 torrential rains, Tharparkar district 10, Thatta 13, and Mirpurkhas 12.

The Met office predicted that heavy rainfall is expected to continue for two more days. The weather system brought widespread rains not only in Karachi but in other areas of Sindh.