Karachi: Electrocution incidents kill 15 as rain pounds many areas

At least 15 people have been killed by electrocution as light rain continued to hit parts of Karachi on Wednesday.

According to reports, many areas in the metropolis witnessed electrocution incidents and power shortage last night as well due to the rain.

As usual, many low-lying areas and roads were inundated with rainwater after gutters overflowed following the rain, with residents facing extreme difficulties in reaching their destinations.

Karachi has emerged as a neglected city during the last three days as there seems to be no civic agencies to take care of its issues. Even a moderate rainfall brought the city life to a standstill, citizens said.

“We have seen intermittent showers on Wednesday afternoon in different areas of Karachi under the influence of a monsoon system that was present in the South-Southeast of Karachi and we are expecting intermittent rain to continue till Thursday morning in Karachi,” Sardar Sarfraz, chief meteorological officer of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) told.

Surjani Town and North Karachi were the most affected areas due to the downpour on Wednesday evening as they received 25.4 and 20.8 millimetres (mm) of rain respectively, which caused flooding on roads, accumulation of water and sewage in the low-lying areas and hours-long power outages.

The accumulated rainfall in the two areas throughout the day was recorded at 30.6mm and 23.4mm respectively.

“Surjani has so far received 30.6mm of rain since morning while North Karachi received 23.4mm of rain. PAF Masroor Base received 10.2mm while Faisal Base received 8mm of rain. Jinnah Terminal received 4.4 mm of rain, Nazimabad and Saddar 6.4mm and 6mm respectively, while University Road/Met Complex received 5.8mm of rain,” Sarfraz said.

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According to MET chief, the current weather system will continue to cause intermittent rain and showers in Karachi and its suburbs till Thursday (today) morning and it is expected to dissipate in the evening.

“We are not seeing any other rain causing system for Karachi till mid of July or even 17-18 of the current month. But the weather would remain better with the sea breeze blowing and temperature in the range of 34-35°C,” Sarfraz said.

Electrocution incidents

As many as six people, including a 10-year old boy, lost their lives due to electrocution in different areas of the city, rescue workers said.

According to the details, most of the deaths occurred due to faulty power transmission system of K-Electric (KE).

Police said a 50-year old man was riding a motorcycle when an electric wire fell on him on Stadium Road. He died on the spot. The body was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) to fulfill legal formalities.

PTI leader Haleem Adil Sheikh held KE responsible for Rafiq’s death, announcing that he would lodge an FIR against the power utility.

Two persons, including 10-year old boy and another man who appeared to be in his 30s, were electrocuted to death in the Nagan Chowrangi area.

Police and rescue workers said three more persons died due to electrocution in the Hijrat Colony, Model Colony and Karimabad areas of the city during the rain. Their bodies were taken to different hospitals for medico-legal formalities.

Since 2014, 73 people have died

Between 2014 and 2019, more than 70 people lost their lives in rain-related incidents.

Despite strong criticism on the city administration, the provincial government and K Electric, the city’s poor electricity and Sewerage systems wreak havoc and cause dozens of deaths.

Figures compiled by hospitals show that there were no deaths in 2014, just one year from 2014, as there was no rain in the city this year.

According to six-year statistics, 73 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents in the city.