Pakistan’s financial capital Karachi hit by torrential rain and floods
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KARACHI - Pakistan declared a public holiday in Karachi on Aug 20 as the financial capital braced itself for more rain, after the arrival of the annual monsoon season left at least seven people dead and caused widespread flooding, officials said.
The monsoon has brought havoc across Pakistan in recent days, with the death toll from flash floods that struck the mountainous north-west on Aug 15 rising to 377.
In Karachi, at least seven people have died since the rain began in the southern port city on Aug 19, said Mr Abdul Wahid Halepoto, a provincial government spokesman. Rainfall reached levels not seen in years in some parts of the city, Pakistan’s largest, with a population of more than 20 million.
Deaths were caused by drowning, road accidents, building collapse and electrocution, he said.
The authorities ordered educational institutions and offices to shut.
“We are expecting more intense rain,” said Mr Anjum Nazir, a spokesman for the provincial meteorological department.
Rain on Aug 19 was recorded between 80mm and 178mm in different parts of the city, he said.
Mr Nazir said the area around the airport received 163.5mm of rain, the highest recorded there since 1979. Some 178mm of rain was recorded in the north-east of the city, the highest since the weather station there was set up five years ago.
The rain disrupted power, mobile phone services and flights, officials said. Local television footage showed cars and other vehicles floating down streets, with houses submerged in water.
Karachi Electric said the sudden downpour had caused some disruption to its distribution network. Restoration efforts faced significant challenges due to waterlogging, access and overall traffic congestion in the city, its spokesperson said.
He said KE teams would be able to restore the majority of electricity feeders within eight to 12 hours.
Rescue workers, police, volunteers and government agencies were helping relief efforts, the city’s Mayor Murtaza Wahab told a press conference.
“We are using all our resources to clear roads and restore utilities,” he said.
Mr Wahab said the rain had overwhelmed the city's infrastructure.
There has also been heavy monsoon rain in Mumbai, India’s financial capital, with some parts of the city drenched with as much as 875.1mm of rain in the five days leading up to Aug 20, the local weather department said.
Many schools in the city were closed for a second straight day on Aug 20, while train services were disrupted.
The authorities requested residents avoid venturing out as more rain was predicted. REUTERS
