Increasing rain in Karachi, Hyderabad prompts Sindh’s government to declare public holiday on Monday
As more downpours are predicted over the next 48 hours, the Government of Sindh has declared Monday (July 25) a public holiday in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions.
Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon made the announcement after rain-related incidents caused three deaths in Karachi.
Memon stated that the decision was made as it had been raining since 5 am. He also asked the private sector to shut down their offices.
In the meantime, police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed told the media that the body of a 40-year-old man had been transported from the Lea market near Memon Masjid to the civil hospital in Karachi. The cause of death was an electric shock, she said.
Syed said that in case of an incident, a 17-year-old died of an electric shock in Liaquatabad-5 near Sheesh Mahal.
In another incident, a 35-year-old underwent an electrical shock while charging his cell phone in the city of Taiser and died, according to Surjani Station House Officer Haji Sanaullah.
The most rain received in the last 24 hours was in Quaidabad (95.9mm), followed by Surjani Town (82.3mm), Keamari (79mm), Gulshan-i-Hadeed (78mm), PAF Masroor base (77mm), DHA Phase 2 (70.5mm), Saddar (62mm), North Karachi (60mm), Orangi Town (57.5mm), PAF Faisal base (51mm), Nazimabad (50mm), Gadap Town (49.6mm), Korangi (44.4mm), Saadi Town (39.6mm), Gulshan-i-Maymar (36.9mm), University Road (36.8mm), old airport area (33mm) and Jinnah Terminal (32mm), data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) showed.
Karachi administrator Murtaza Wahab said it had been raining “non-stop” since early morning and had recently returned to strength. He asked people to avoid unnecessary travel, adding that the entire administration was on the ground and rescue operations would begin as soon as the rain stopped.
Meanwhile, a traffic police spokesman said that the Korangi causeway was closed for traffic as a result of the accumulated water. The spokesman added that the underground passages of the KPT, Submarine Chowrangi, and Mehran hotels were also closed to traffic, due to the flooding of rainwater.
A day earlier, Wahab had shared images of Sindh’s chief minister, Murad Ali Shah, visiting various parts of the metropolis to supervise preparations for the rain and clearing storm water drains.
“The whole administration will be in [the] field to ensure that rainwater is drained,” Karachi’s administrator had assured.
Meanwhile, the K-Electric (KE) spokesman said that the power utility had received precipitation reports in various parts of the city.
In a series of tweets, he urged citizens to be cautious when using electrical devices and to keep a safe distance from billboards, electrical poles, and buildings under construction in strong wind conditions.
He warned that the power supply in low areas could be interrupted due to the build-up of rainwater.
“KE staff continuously monitor the situation and are on alert,” he said, adding that citizens could register their complaints on the 118 helpline.
outpoured rain, thunderstorms predicted
In the latest weather advisory issued on Sunday, the PMD said strong monsoon currents “continuously penetrate into Sindh since last night” and will prevail until July 26-27.
Under the influence of this weather system, rain, winds and widespread thunderstorms with scattered and very heavy (sometimes extremely heavy) falls are probably in Tharparker, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Tando M Khan, Tando Allayar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Sanghar, Nawabshah, Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Shikarpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Ghotki, and Kashmore districts, and Karachi division from today to July 26-27,” the PMD said.
The department cautioned that heavy rains could lead to urban flooding/water congestion in Karachi’s low-lying areas of Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tharparker, Tando M Khan, Tando Allayar, Sanghar, Nawabshah, Dadu, Jamshoro, Kambar Shahdadkot, Larkana and Sukkur during the forecast period.
Strong winds can harm vulnerable and loosened structures. A persistent heavy spell on Khuzdar, Lasbela, Hub, and along the Kirthar chain could put pressure on the Hub dam and flash flooding in the Dadu and Jamshoro districts,” it added.
The monsoon season in Pakistan this year caused havoc in Sindh and Baluchistan. Earlier, the Minister of Climate Change, Sherry Rehman, stated that rainfall in the provinces has broken 30-year records.