Widespread rain, thunderstorm expected to hit Karachi

Authorities declare ‘emergency’ in the province

KARACHI: Widespread rain and thunderstorm coupled with gusty winds is expected to hit lower Sindh, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said Tuesday, after Karachi witnessed the onset of a rain spell.

The PMD said that there are chances of isolated heavy to more heavy falls in lower Sindh, including Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and Karachi divisions on Wednesday.

Scattered places in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, and Kashmir may also receive rain during the next 24 hours.

According to details, rainfall is likely at scattered places in Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Kalat, Quetta, Sibbi, Zhob, Naseerabad, Bahawalpur, Multan, Sahiwal, D.G. Khan, Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Hazara divisions, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, and at isolated places in Malakand and Peshawar divisions.

“Seasonal low lies over north Balochistan. Strong monsoon currents are penetrating southern parts of the country, while moderate currents in upper parts and Kashmir,” the Met Office said.

Earlier, a Met Office spokesman said in a statement that heavy to very heavy falls may generate urban flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad and Mirpur Khas divisions on Wednesday and Thursday, and flash flooding in the vulnerable nullas/streams of eastern Balochistan during the period.

In wake of the forecast, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has advised all concerned departments for an update of SMS alert in view of expected flash flooding due to rains and thunderstorm during the current week.

According to NDMA, flash floods are likely to impact different areas of Sindh and Balochistan.

The authority has asked the provincial DMAs of Sindh and Balochistan to coordinate with cellular mobile operators for early dissemination of SMS alert in the areas.

Meanwhile, authorities in Sindh have declared a ‘rain-emergency’ in the province in the aftermath of Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) warning of the fore coming widespread rains. Leaves of relevant staff have been cancelled and the services of Pakistan Navy have been acquired to respond to any emergencies.

Citizens say no satisfactory arrangements have been made to face the potential threat of flooding in Sindh’s urban and rural districts as the nullahs remain heaped up with garbage.

The rainfall in Karachi on Tuesday exposed the physical readiness of the government to manage the system as the city underwent prolonged power outages, with main city roads inundated, causing severe traffic jams.