Four dead, 400 feeders trip in Karachi downpours

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KARACHI: Heavy monsoon rain lashed Karachi, disrupting routine life and sending low-lying areas inundated in accumulated rainwater.

The first spell of the monsoon rains lashed the port city Wednesday evening and a large area of the city plunged into darkness as hundreds of feeders of the Karachi-Electric (K-Electric) tripped. On Thursday, heavy rains coupled with strong winds again soaked the city, compounding the miseries of Karachiites.

Low-lying areas went inundated in rainwater due to poor drainage arrangements. Even some sections of the main road submerged in knee-deep water. Hundreds of bikers and motorists remained stranded for a long time.

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and District Municipal Corporation’s (DMC) staff was seen on some roads to drain out the accumulated rainwater.  The Met Office has predicted more rains.

FOUR DIE IN RAIN-RELATED INCIDENTS

At least four people died of electrocution as the metropolis was hit with the first monsoonal rainfall of the season on Wednesday.

The torrents brought much-needed relief from the punishing heat but plunged different locales of the city into darkness. By early Thursday morning, power had been restored in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Kharadar, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Model Colony, Nazimabad and Liaquatabad.

However, parts of Lyari, Landhi, Korangi, Orangi Town, Baldia Town, Haideri and Steel Town remained without electricity as K-Electric continued work on fixing the faults. Low-lying areas of the city were inundated with rainwater.

K-Electric’s high tension line at Bin Qasim-2 tripped after 11pm, plunging half the city into darkness. The power supplier said that as many as 400 feeders had tripped and restoration work was started as soon as the rain stopped.

IGP ORDERS TRAFFIC’S SMOOTH FLOW:

Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) AD Khawaja on Thursday directed the traffic DIG to adopt all necessary measures to ensure smooth flow of traffic during the rain.

In a statement issued here, Khawaja asked all the traffic SSPs to make sure the presence of section officers at every U-turn, roundabout and signal to control the traffic. “Traffic constables and officers should be deployed at every traffic junction,” he ordered.

The IGP passed the directives for clearing all roads by removing hurdles and to make the alternate route where traffic flow was too much. He also directed his subordinates to keep people updated on situation through traffic police reporting, and to guide the citizens in a more effective manner through their helpline 1915.

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