Rain in Karachi. Photo: APP (file)
KARACHI:
Heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds wreaked havoc across Karachi, disrupting the city’s systems and making ongoing development projects a major hazard for residents. Numerous citizens fell into potholes while motorcycles and cars were damaged. The Red Line and the Karimabad underpass became symbols of fear as millions of commuters were stuck in severe traffic jams for hours. Streets and residential areas were flooded with rainwater, while drainage arrangements remained largely ineffective.
Overflowing sewers and drains exacerbated the problems in several areas. Despite Mayor Karachi visiting several places, the administrative machinery of the city’s municipal bodies remained largely absent.
Rainwater collected in the same places as in previous periods, but this time ongoing development projects worsened the situation.
Videos circulated on social media showing a motorcyclist trapped in a pothole while searching for his bike while a nearby car had also fallen into a pothole. Citizens warned others on social media to avoid traveling from Hussainabad to Karimabad. The Karimabad underpass, already delayed for three years, worsened further after the rains.
Similarly, construction work along University Road’s red line caused major disruptions. Traveling from Jail Chaurangi to Hasan Square and from Hasan Square to Nipa Chawrangi became a nightmare for commuters.
A powerful new westerly weather system entering Pakistan from Balochistan brought widespread rainfall to Karachi on Thursday. Light to heavy rain continued in some areas for over an hour and in some localities heavy rainfall caused urban flooding. Thick clouds darkened the city even in the afternoon, while hail was reported in areas including Mauripur and Clifton. The Meteorological Department has predicted partly to partly cloudy skies with light to moderate rain on Friday.
The system, which entered from southwest Balochistan, started affecting Karachi on Wednesday evening and continued till Thursday afternoon.
Strong winds were also recorded during the rain, reaching a maximum speed of 38 km/h. According to the meteorological department, Nazimabad recorded 6.69 mm rainfall; Keamari: 5.6mm; Saadi Town: 4.8mm; Gulistan-e-Johar: 4.42mm; Motorway M-9: 4.35 mm; Orangi Town: 3.94mm; Gulshan-e-Maymar: 3.6 mm; Surjani Town: 3.5mm; DHA: 3.3 mm; Old Airport: 3.26mm; Sharea Faisal: 3.04mm; Mauripur: 2.9mm; North Karachi: 2.88mm; Orange: 1.82mm; and Gulshan-e-Hadeed received 1.7 mm of rainfall.
After the rain, rainbows were visible in several areas.
Meteorological department’s early warning center has predicted that the new weather system may continue to affect Karachi and several rural areas of Sindh till April 4. Authorities have advised residents to take precautions and avoid non-essential travel.
Meanwhile, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has claimed that the corporation successfully managed the effects of heavy and intermittent rainfall across the city, ensuring timely water drainage and minimal disruption to daily life.
