Devastation rains down in Karachi

Recent monsoon system has broken the previous 89 years record of maximum rainfall in the month of
august in Karachi. At Faisal Base 345mm of rainfall has been recorded in August this year, the previous
record of Faisal Base was 298.4mm. This year 272mm of rainfall has been recorded at Masroor Base,
while the previous record of the observatory at the airport was 262.5mm. The Meteorological
Department said that Karachi recorded the highest rainfall in August 2020 after 1931. Meanwhile, Sindh
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah declared Rain Emergency all over Sindh under which leaves of
government employees have been cancelled and the PDMA and Relief Commissioner have been
activated to start relief and rehabilitation work.
Heavy rains continued for the second day in Karachi on Tuesday, wreaking more havoc on the
metropolis, flooding roads and causing a landslide. At least three children lost their lives in rain-related
accidents. The hours-long spell, which began before sunrise and continued till night, broke previous
records of rainfall recorded in the city during August. The Met office department added that the trend
was likely to continue for another two days, warning that another system that was developing right now
over the Bay of Bengal could enter the province and cause heavy rainfall at the end of August or early
September. Meanwhile, the Sindh chief minister, in view of the incessant rainfall, declared a rain
emergency in the province, instructing the chief secretary to issue the notification in this regard. The
leaves of all government employees have been revoked and they have been directed to report to their
respective departments immediately.
The rainwater entered the building of circuit house, Hyderabad and Shehbaz building located at Thandi
Sadak. Meanwhile, power supply to most of the city areas remains suspended due to continuous rainfall.
HESCO authorities have been directed to ensure the provision of power supply so that pumping stations
could be made operational round the clock and drainage of rainwater and provision of water supply
could also be ensured. Karachi, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Jamshoro, Kotri, Tando Muhammad Khan,
Nawabshah and other parts of Sindh are receiving showers. Meanwhile, the National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of urban flooding in Karachi and other parts of the Sindh
province. “More than usual rainfall is expected during the ongoing week,” the federal authority said
citing a prediction from the met office.
Meanwhile, the police and other law enforcing agencies blocked several roads after they came under
waist-deep water to prevent people from any untoward incidents, including the Korangi Causeway, after
the Malir River overflowed. Both Malir and Lyari rivers overflowed and inundated roads on their either
banks in various parts of the city. The overflowing Lyari river caused heavy damage in Lyari and adjoining
areas.
Heavy rains had seriously affected the day-to-day life business and activities in Karachi. It is a dilemma
that authorities have failed to deal with same disastrous situation every year during monsoon season.