KARACHI: Heavy monsoon rain affected different areas of Karachi on Thursday evening, leaving several streets flooded and many localities without electricity.
At least 11 people including four children have reportedly died in rain-related accidents, including drowning, electrocution, and ceiling collapse during the current monsoon rains.
Moreover, a number of roads in the city were flooded with waist-deep water, with clogged and dysfunctional drains making the situation worse.
However, the police in the Central District promptly responded by initiating relief work early in the night, helping stranded motorists by assisting them in pushing their vehicles to the roadsides, and trying to determine and fix car problems.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted that it is likely that rain will continue on Friday (today) as well.
As many as 160 feeders tripped, plunging a large number of localities into darkness. Some of these areas included Malir, Airport and its surroundings, Liaquatabad, Keamari, Gulshan Iqbal Block 10, Shershah, North Karachi, Federal B Area Block 2, and Saddar.
There were also complaints of broken electricity wires. The company, advised locals to stay away from electric poles, PMTs, and broken electric wires, while also informing that repair work will only commence once rain ceases.
Rainwater flooded the city’s main thoroughfares, including Shahrah-e-Faisal, near Gora Qabrustan. Rainwater also entered houses and mosques of KBR society near Gujjar Nala and roads adjacent to Governor and CM house.
A rain emergency has been declared in the government hospitals of the city.
Traffic Police have advised the commuters to ensure they are driving with proper headlights and dry themselves before getting behind the steering wheel.
Elected district representatives and members of district administration remain engaged in draining out the rainwater from their respective mandated constituencies and areas.
Residents living in the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) area were also stuck in their homes as the roads outside were completely flooded with rainwater. Areas surrounding Teen Talwar, Khayaban-e-Shahbaz, and Khayaban-e-Rahat have been among the worst affected.