Karachi gets second day of monsoon rain as authorities step up preparedness

KARACHI: Light to moderate rain accompanied by strong winds hit several parts of Karachi on Saturday evening, bringing the city’s second straight day of rainfall in the current monsoon spell.

Rain was reported in Scheme 33, Gulshan-i-Maymar and nearby localities, while Hassan Square received a light drizzle. Gulistan-i-Jauhar saw heavy rain, and video footage showed commuters moving through 4K Chowrangi in Surjani Town during a downpour. Light showers were also recorded in Saddar, several blocks of Clifton and parts of the Defence Housing Authority.

The rainfall followed the season’s first spell in the metropolis a day earlier, when different areas of the city received light to moderate showers.

Provincial authorities activate monitoring

Earlier in the day, Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah chaired a meeting on monsoon preparedness and directed provincial and district authorities to immediately activate the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and district control rooms. He also ordered 24-hour situation reports to be submitted every morning throughout the monsoon season for ongoing monitoring.

During the meeting, the chief secretary said contingency planning should cover the identification of relief camp sites and the availability of rescue boats, dewatering pumps, water bowsers, generators and other emergency equipment. He also called for resource mapping, arrangements for food and drinking water, and sufficient medicine stocks for the health and livestock departments.

He further instructed municipal authorities to remove bottlenecks, complete the cleaning of storm-water drains and ensure drainage arrangements remain functional ahead of heavy rainfall.

Rain forecast for Karachi and other districts

The meeting was informed that the Pakistan Meteorological Department had forecast moderate rain, with isolated heavy falls, until July 27 in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Jamshoro and Shaheed Benazirabad.

Light to moderate rainfall was also expected in Ghotki, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Kambar Shahdadkot, Larkana, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze and Thatta. For Karachi, the forecast indicated mostly cloudy conditions with chances of light rain and drizzle.

District administrations on alert

Earlier this week, on the directions of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the PDMA placed district administrations across the province on high alert and asked all relevant departments to take precautionary and emergency measures as strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea continued to affect Sindh.

The chief minister directed deputy commissioners, district administrations, municipal bodies, irrigation officials, health services, rescue agencies and local government institutions to stay fully alert, keep emergency response teams ready, maintain drainage systems and take all necessary measures to protect lives and property.