Karachi and Sindh Grapple with Lingering Effects of Monsoon Rains

Karachi and various regions of Sindh are still facing the consequences of recent heavy monsoon rains, including power disruptions and water accumulation. Officials have cautioned that the next monsoon phase could exacerbate the situation.

Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori has pledged to address the electricity crisis by meeting with the managing director of K-Electric, the primary power supplier for Karachi.

Residents in areas such as North Nazimabad, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Defence View, Orangi Town, Lyari, Baldia Town, Liaquatabad, Surjani, and Korangi Industrial Area have reported power outages lasting between 24 and 48 hours.

In some areas of Karachi, power failures have exceeded 36 hours, leading to water shortages in households.

In Gulistan-e-Jauhar’s Block 8, residents protested after enduring 32 hours without electricity, while Block 2 experienced a continuous outage since Tuesday. Some parts of North Nazimabad reported blackouts lasting 45 hours.

Similar grievances have been voiced in Hyderabad, where residents claimed that a significant portion of Latifabad and Qasimabad remained without power, with restoration efforts delayed for over seven hours.

K-Electric CEO Moonis Alvi stated that the downpour caused over 500 feeders to trip, but electricity had been restored to 94% of the city by Wednesday evening.

The primary power utility for the city reported that electricity was being supplied through 1,950 of Karachi’s 2,100 feeders, with ongoing efforts to address the remaining 150. The company cited that extensive waterlogging impeded vehicle movement, making it challenging for field personnel to reach affected areas.

Accompanied by MQM leader Dr. Farooq Sattar, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori visited areas of the city affected by flooding on Wednesday night. During a subsequent press briefing, he emphasized that power shortages have become a major challenge for the city.

He informed reporters that in Surjani, families were compelled to sleep on their roofs due to rainwater entering their homes. He further mentioned that food distribution had commenced in the area and emphasized the need for prompt drainage of low-lying areas.

Tessori revealed that the Governor House complaints cell received over 11,000 complaints in a single day, primarily related to power outages. He also announced that similar complaint centers would be established in Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas soon.

“This is not the time to solely attribute blame to climate change,” he stressed.

“Once this crisis subsides, we must tackle the underlying causes of these failures,” Tessori asserted, adding that K-Electric’s managing director has been called for a briefing.

In a separate incident, two brothers tragically lost their lives due to electrocution in Natha Khan Goth during Tuesday’s storm.

Authorities identified the victims as 21-year-old Murad and his 16-year-old brother, Siraj.

Their father has filed a complaint at Shah Faisal Colony police station, leading officers to include charges of manslaughter against K-Electric officials.

Federal Climate Change Minister Dr. Musadik Malik has cautioned that the current rainy spell is anticipated to persist until September 10, with the upcoming monsoon system expected to be even more severe.

During an appearance on a news program, Malik emphasized the need to promptly initiate preparations for the forthcoming monsoon spell.

Referring to the recent flooding, he noted that cloudbursts and flash floods possess the capacity to sweep away sizable boulders “like straws,” resulting in widespread destruction.

He also cautioned that lodging facilities situated in flood-prone regions could collapse, exacerbating the devastation.

During the same program, Sindh Minister Nasir Hussain Shah acknowledged the limitations of Karachi’s drainage infrastructure, stating that it can only manage 40mm of rainfall, rendering it incapable of handling rainfall of 200mm.

Environmental expert Dr. Zainab Naeem cautioned that unregulated stone-crushing activities in mountainous regions have elevated the likelihood of flooding, with minimal oversight in place.