Heavy rain, thunder, and lightning Rainwater mixed with sewage pouring from blocked lines wreaked havoc in sections of Karachi on Saturday night, flooding homes and hospitals.
Downpours were reported in Baldi Town, Orangi Town, North Karachi, Surjani Town, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Orangi Town, Bahria Town, Saddar, North Nazimabad, Tower, Liaquatabad, and Nazimabad.
Following the downpour, main arteries in the megacity were inundated in precipitation, and commuters were stranded in their vehicles since the city government had not taken any precautions to deal with the storm, despite the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) forecast of heavy rain the day before.
Uffffff…..Heavy rain in Karachi..
Again back In January ????????????#KarachiRain pic.twitter.com/rKExyy8p4p
— ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? (@i_Rizuu) February 3, 2024
Commuters were inconvenienced due to collected water combined with sewage pouring from blocked lines on major roadways, including MA Jinnah Road and I.I. Chundrigar Road.
With the first drop of rain, various parts of the port city, notably North Nazimabad and its surrounding districts, went dark due to a power outage.
Aside from low-lying areas, precipitation flooded homes in the city’s affluent Defence View neighbourhood, damaging residents’ furniture and other expensive possessions.
Despite the PMD’s warning, the interim Sindh government did little to deal with the rain, allowing rainwater combined with sewage to enter the operating theatre of the gynaecology ward at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and Civil Hospital ward number 3.
Stagnant water can also be found near the Sindh Assembly and the Governor’s House.
According to weather department records, Baldia Town had the most rainfall (64mm), followed by Surjani Town (62mm).
Orangi Town received 52.2mm, Karachi Airport 41.8mm, Nazimabad 23.5mm, University Road 29.8mm, North Nazimabad 33.6mm, and Gulshan-e-Maymar 23mm of rain.
Meanwhile, K-Electric, the city’s sole energy provider, asked residents to look after themselves and their loved ones throughout the rainy season.
To read our blog on “For artificial rain in Lahore, Govt. allocates Rs. 350 mn,” click here
