The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has advised citizens to stay away from fallen or wet electricity wires, water-soaked electricity poles, and to avoid standing in or wading through stagnant puddles of rainwater.

The citizens are also advised to refrain from touching electrical appliances with wet hands. According to the power utility, they have prepared a comprehensive preparedness plan for the heavy rains and thunderstorm predicted by the Met office, and advised the general public to follow strict safety measures.

They are to call 118 if confronted with an emergency, like standing water around electric installations or poles, or broken and fallen wires. The utility has expressed its commitment to handling public complaints.

The KESC has also advised citizens to keep abreast of the weather condition through the local media, secure all loose objects which may fly off due to strong winds, stay away from windows during a storm and keep flashlights and spare batteries, in case the power goes out.

While driving the citizens need to make sure the windshield wipers are working, drive slowly, look out for falling trees – which may break owing to winds or lightening - turn on emergency flashers, not touch any metal objects inside the car and avoid driving on roads full of water.

For the KESC’s field employees working outdoors during rain, the utility have advised them to take strict safety measures, including careful planning, toolbox talks, making sure that safety gear is in a usable condition, keeping a small towel or a piece of cloth to wipe tools dry before using them, to ensure line isolation from all sides before commencing work, to ensure proper shorting and grounding where applicable, to use gum boots and check that the soles have a proper tread to avoids slipping, use safety belts while working at heights and during strong winds, to stay away from trees during a thunderstorm, lookout for open manholes by using sticks when wading through standing pools of water.