3 die as downpour continues to lash Karachi, suburbs

KARACHI: Three people died in rain-related incidents as downpour continued to lash the city, particularly its outskirts, for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.

The Sindh government announced closure of all public and private educational institutions in the province on Thursday (today).

A senior police officer told Dawn that heavy rains continued for over three hours on the outskirts of the city in district Malir. Rain water coming from the Kirthar range caused overflowing of dams and seasonal streams and rivers inundating many villages.

Videos that went viral on social media showed a flooded Superhighway as well as submerged roads in Bahria Town Karachi.

Memon Goth SHO Atteq Rehman said that a Suzuki Alto car reportedly drowned and heavy flow of water swept it away. He said that the water level was so high that the police and rescuers could not find any trace of the car.

Also, Korangi causeway has been closed for vehicular traffic for the past three days as heavy rains damaged the road.

The Met office said that Gulshan-i-Hadeed received maximum 68 millimetre rain on Wednesday. It warned that the current weather system would continue till Friday and hit most parts of the city on Thursday (today) as well.

“The low-lying areas of Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas can face urban flooding due to expected heavy rains on Thursday (today),” said an advisory issued by the Met office.

68mm rain

Figures released by the Met office said that Quaidabad received 37mm rain followed by Gadap Town (29.2mm), Saddar (29mm), Saadi Town (25mm), and University Road (21mm).

The fresh spell of rain in Karachi continued to claim lives as two more persons died from electrocution.

Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed said that 14-year-old Moin Samad died when he suffered an electric shock near Jamia Masjid, Faqeer Mohammed Goth, Manghopir.

Manghopir SHO Yasin Gujjar said the teenager was electrocuted while playing in his street.

In another incident, Rasheeda Sikander, 27, died from electrocution in Khokhrapar, Malir.

Malir City SHO Shahrukh Shaikh said she suffered an electric shock inside her home.

A woman drowned in a Malir area on Wednesday.

Malir SSP Irfan Bahadur said that police got information about drowning of a woman and two children in Morio Khan Goth.

The police rescued two children when water level came down, he said, adding that the body of the drowned woman was also fished out.