Four people rescued as floodwater enters houses in Malir village

A Rescue 1122 team launched an operation under the leadership of the Malir deputy commissioner and rescued four people during torrential rain on Tuesday night, a statement issued by the CM House said.

A report on the rescue operation in Khamiso Jokiu Goth, Malir District, was given to Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah. Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had ordered the launch of an immediate rescue operation after rainwater reportedly entered houses in the village.

A Shehzore truck was swept away in the water relay from the spillway of Thado Dam, the CM was informed. Four people riding in the truck were safely rescued under the supervision of the Malir DC, the report said.

The Karachi commissioner submitted the report of the incident to Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah. The CM directed that continuous monitoring of the water flow of the dam should be maintained, and the public should be kept constantly informed of the situation so that any further trouble or loss could be avoided.

On the instructions of the chief minister, MNA Jam Karim and MPA Saleem Baloch also visited the scene. Earlier, the CM House had said in a statement that on the instructions of Chief Minister Shah, the chief secretary sent a rescue team to Khamisu Jokhio Goth, Malir. It said rising water from the Malir River entered houses in Khamisu Jokhio Goth, and there are also reports of some people being trapped in the Malir River.

Also, he was informed that a potion of M-9 was inundated with rising water level in Thado Dam near Al-Habib Restaurant. The Karachi commissioner sent a team on the instructions of the chief secretary, and Sindh government decided to break the wall of M-9 to give way to water. The CM directed that M-9 be cleared of water and the traffic flow be restored.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Shah issued a rain emergency traffic management plan, directing Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah to ensure the smooth flow of traffic after rain in Karachi.

Under the plan, in view of the forecast rain, section officers, DSPs and SPs were told to be present on roads. Officers were deployed at important locations, diversion points and alternative routes.

CM Shah ordered taking emergency measures to facilitate people’s movement in case of urban flooding. Each traffic police team was provided with the necessary equipment and recovery resources, including forklifts, motorbike lifters, and mini and heavy recovery vehicles.

He ordered providing timely assistance to people stranded on roads. Special teams were equipped with life-saving ropes and rescue equipment, while mobile workshops were also present on roads to provide immediate technical facilities to damaged vehicles.

Sindh police were providing the latest traffic situation on FM 88.6 and other channels. The traffic police helpline 1915 was providing timely awareness to people.

The administration and all the departments concerned remained active after the rains. CS Shah visited several parts of the city to review drainage and traffic arrangements.

He visited Tower, Sharea Faisal, II Chundrigar Road, MA Jinnah Road, Metropole and other major thoroughfares, where he inspected the situation and appreciated the timely response of the field officers.