Multiple areas of Karachi face power outage after over 550 KE feeders trip

KARACHI: Multiple areas of the port city are undergoing power outages as over 550 K-Electric (KE) feeders tripped after a third spell of moonsoon rains wreaked havoc in the city.

The MET Office last week had forecast a third spell of monsoon in Karachi with heavy rain and thunderstorm in the port city between July 26 and July 27.

Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, FB Area, Liaquatabad, PIB Colony, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Korangi and Old City Area were reported to be without power as the rain started.

KE said it would restore power as soon as it was safe to do so. A spokesperson for the power supplier said electricity supply of low-lying areas and those with kundas had been suspended.

“We urge government departments to work as quickly as possible to drain the water out of these areas,” the spokesperson said.

According to data provided by the MET Office, the highest rainfall was recorded in Gulistan-e-Johar, at 66 millimetres (mm), while 55 mm was registered at Old Airport, 55 mm in Pehlwan Goth, 42 mm in Malir.

The MET department has said the city could expect the fresh spell of rain to continue for the next couple of hours.

“We can expect another spell of rain at night,” the MET department said, adding that intermittent rain can be expected throughout the afternoon.

It added the city could face urban flooding.

'Power supply restored swiftly,' says K-Electric

In a statement issued Sunday evening following the heavy rain that lashed Karachi, the K-Electric said it had "temporarily suspended" the power supply to low-lying areas, including Orangi Town, Korangi, Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Baldia Town, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and Bin Qasim, "on account of torrential rains followed by urban flooding".

Noting that its "teams remained engaged", a spokesperson said they "remained fully alert following prediction of rain and responded swiftly to restore electricity to affected areas".

"While waterlogging in low-lying and different other areas caused difficulty in restoration work, power supply to strategic installations including key hospitals, KWSB pumping stations, and the airport was ensured and teams responded swiftly in case of any interruptions.

"The power utility regrets inconvenience caused to customers due to inclement weather," the spokesperson added, with a warning to to stay away from broken wires, utility poles, and transformers.

"KE teams continue to monitor the situation and teams remain alert in view of the prediction of more rain over the next two days," the spokesperson said further.

Sindh govt imposes rain emergency at KW&SB

Separately, a rain emergency has been declared at the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) on the orders of Provincial Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, a KWSB spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said de-watering pumps have been deployed in low-lying areas and roads with the Board’s complain centre to register complaints all night.

Earlier on July 7, the first spell of torrential rains had wreaked havoc in the metropolis, bringing the much-feared load-shedding in multiple neighbourhoods despite claims from the sole power supplying company, the K-Electric, that it had made improvements in its system ahead of the forecast thunderstorm.

According to data provided by the authority, the highest rainfall was recorded in Saddar, at 43 millimetres (mm), while 26 mm was registered at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Faisal Base, 22mm in Nazimabad, 12mm at PAF Masroor Base, 8.8mm at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, 3.1mm in Landhi, and 1.2mm in Surjani Town.

Despite the PMD's early forecast, there seemed to be no plan to manage the traffic disruption from related authorities. Limited visibility due to heavy rain disrupted traffic flow at Shahrah-e-Faisal.

However, during the second spell of monsoon on July 17, two people, including a police officer, had died of electrocution in the city as rain battered the metropolis, leaving the city's main roads and streets submerged in water.

Constable Irshad Ali was on-duty at the Water Pump in the city's Ibrahim Hyderi area when he died as a result of an electric shock. Another person in the city's Clifton area succumbed to electrocution.

Areas that received rainfall included Jamshed Road, Model Colony, Saddar, Clifton, Malir, Gulistan-e-Johar, Dhoraji, Bahadurabad, PECHS, Soldier Bazaar, University Road, Gulshan-e-Hadid, Abdullah Haroon Road, Shah Faisal Colony, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Fawwara Chowk, M.A. Jinnah Road, and Garden.