Karachi faces power outage, traffic jams as rains lashed the city

As the third spell of rains lashed Karachi, several areas of the city faced power outages and flooded streets.

According to the details, more than 550 K-Electric (KE) feeders tripped in the metropolis.

Areas of Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, FB Area, Liaquatabad, PIB Colony, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Korangi and Old City reported to be without power as the rain started.

KE said it would restore power as soon as it was safe to do so.

A spokesperson for the power supplier said electricity supply of low-lying areas and those with kundashad been suspended.

“We urge government departments to work as quickly as possible to drain the water out of these areas,” the spokesperson said.

According to data provided by the MET Office, the highest rainfall was recorded in Gulistan-e-Johar, at 78.5 millimetres (mm), while 55 mm was registered at Old Airport, 55 mm in Pehlwan Goth, 42 mm in Malir, 48.5 mm in Kemari and 68.4 mm of rains recorded in Surjani Town.

The MET department has said the city could expect the fresh spell of rain to continue for the next couple of hours.

“We can expect another spell of rain at night,” the MET department said, adding that intermittent rain can be expected throughout the afternoon.

It added the city could face urban flooding.

Separately, a rain emergency has been declared at the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) on the orders of Provincial Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, a KWSB spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said de-watering pumps have been deployed in low-lying areas and roads with the Board’s complain centre to register complaints all night.

Moreover, due to the rains, long queues of vehicles witnessed on roads due to flooding in several areas of the city.