Karachi Weather: Monsoon Spell Brings Heavy Rains
The monsoon spell is expected to bring widespread rainfall, with heavy downpours forecasted in several regions, and the authorities must be prepared to respond to potential flooding and damage, with a focus on clearing stormwater drains and providing relief to affected areas.
The fourth spell of monsoon is expected to begin across the country tomorrow, with heavy rains and storms forecasted in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan, while light rain is expected in Karachi, amid concerns over the city's preparedness for urban flooding due to choked stormwater drains.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued a high alert due to the heavy rainfall forecast for 20-25 July in several districts, as flood-like conditions have already developed at several points along the River Indus, resulting in 123 deaths and 462 injuries in Punjab so far. Rescue teams have evacuated 223 people and 162 livestock to safer locations.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecasted more intermittent rain, wind, and thundershowers in Kashmir, Islamabad, Pothohar region, northeast Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan in the next 12 hours. The Punjab government has declared a "rain emergency" in various parts of the province, including Rawalpindi, and mobilized all relevant departments to protect citizens from flood-like conditions.
In Karachi, the city's stormwater drains remain choked with garbage and debris, raising concerns of urban flooding. The Johar Nullah in Gulistan-e-Jauhar is particularly filled with waste, and residents are frustrated with the lack of effective cleaning, citing that the drains overflow every year during rainfall. The city's preparation for heavy rains is hindered by the negligence of civic authorities, leaving citizens fearing a repeat of previous years' flooding if urgent measures are not taken to clear the drains.
As the monsoon spell is expected to bring heavy rains, the authorities must take immediate action to clear the stormwater drains and prepare the city for potential flooding, to ensure the safety of citizens and minimize damage to infrastructure.