Karachi received its first pre-monsoon showers on Wednesday, with several areas receiving heavy rain amid thunder, lightning and strong winds.
Local government minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said officials of all local bodies have been ordered to monitor the situation on the roads and ensure that drainage drives are carried out wherever there is a possibility of water logging.
“All machinery and staff are at work and conditions are good. I am personally supervising all the work and will go on a city tour,” he said.
Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab inspected the situation after the rain and supervised the evacuation and drainage works.
Sindh Health Department’s media coordinator Mehr Khurshid said a rain emergency was not declared as Karachi was expected to receive normal or below normal rainfall.
He said that the Director General of Health is ensuring the availability of doctors in Karachi and Hyderabad division hospitals.
Meanwhile, K-Electric spokesman Imran Rana said there were reports of “strong winds and rain” in most parts of the city. He said more than 1,650 power feeders were still supplying electricity to large parts of the city.
Releasing the details of the rain received, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that Najimabad received the highest rainfall of 38 mm. This is followed by Jinnah Terminal (22 mm), Airport Old Area (15 mm), PAF Base Faisal (8 mm), Qaidabad (6 mm), University Road (5.8 mm), Gulshan-e-Maymar (4.3 mm), Saadi Town (2.7 mm). mm), Orangi Town (2 mm), PAF Base Masroor (2 mm) and Surjani Town (1.7 mm).
PMD had predicted earlier torrential rain across the country Due to the strong weather system entering the upper and central parts of the country from Monday. It had said that the weather system would remain in place till Wednesday night with the possibility of rain in Karachi from Tuesday evening to Wednesday.
However, the PMD weather forecast released today did not mention any rain in Karachi and instead, predicted “hot and humid” weather with a maximum of 35 to 37 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 29.5 degrees Celsius.
According to a statement by the Karachi Police spokesperson, the directions were issued for the police force following the prediction of rain by Additional IG Javed Alam Odho.
He instructed all the field commanders to remain present in their areas during the rains, and also directed the traffic police officers to perform their duties in their designated areas. The Special Protection Unit directed the Rain Emergency Unit to be prepared to deal with any possible urban flooding and assist the public at all times, the statement said.
Patrol vehicles were also ordered to be equipped with necessary equipment and equipment to transport the stranded vehicles.
In line with the monsoon season, Wahab said on Saturday that the work of clearing and desilting 41 major storm drains in Karachi has been done. almost done,
While visiting Jubilee Nala, Garden Nala, Soldier Bazar Nala and Regal Sadar Nala, he said that work on major drains is in full swing.