Rains on Sunday night disrupt traffic flow in Central, East, West and Malir districts

Heavy rains occurred in parts of Karachi’s District Central, East, West and Malir on Sunday evening, inundating many thoroughfares and slowing traffic for hours.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had already predicted that Karachi would likely experience a heavy downpour with thunder on Sunday. District South’s MA Jinnah Road, Saddar and Old City Area also received intermittent drizzling in the morning hours of Sunday.

Heavy rainfall in the evening hours caused traffic disruptions in various areas of Karachi. Rainwater accumulation led to traffic delays on University Road, Rashid Minhas Road, Nipa, Jauhar Mor, parts of Sharea Faisal, Malir 15, and Baloch Colony flyover.

The blockage of Sharea Faisal towards Drigh Road occurred due to rainwater at COD. Moreover, heavy rainfall also affected District Central’s Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad and North Karachi areas causing significant traffic congestion. It also rained heavily in District West where roads of Surjani Town and Orangi were inundated.

It rained maximum in the Paposhnagar area of Nazimabad where 46.5mm of rainfall was recorded. The coastal area of Ibrahim Hyderi recorded 29.8mm of rain followed by 27mm in Quaidabad and 26mm in Orangi.

No significant rain occurred in the Saddar area particularly in the surroundings of the Fawara Chowk where the Jamaat-e-Islami has been holding a sit-in outside the Governor House.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has cautioned that many parts of the metropolis may experience rainfall between 40mm and 60mm, and even up to 100mm in the ongoing monsoon season.

Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, while chairing a high-level meeting of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), said the drainage had been satisfactory during the two days of rain.

He said the staff of the local bodies, including those responsible for cleaning the drains, kept the city running during the showers. He praised the municipal staff who worked during the rain.

KWSC Chief Executive Officer Engineer Syed Salahuddin Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer Engineer Asadullah Khan and Chief Engineer Sewerage Aftab Alam Chandio along with all superintending and executive engineers attended the meeting, in which Wahab gave strict instructions to all the executive engineers of sewage to improve drainage throughout the city. He said that providing better water supply and sewerage facilities to the citizens was one of the government’s top priorities and if the citizens suffered, strict action would be taken against the negligent officers.

The National Disaster Management Authority issued an advisory stating that there is a likelihood of heavy rains in the Karachi division until August 6. “Heavy rains could cause urban flooding in Karachi,” the NDMA advisory said and directed all relevant departments to take measures.