Pakistani PM directs institutions to step up relief work in rain-hit Karachi
Imran vows to stand by the people of Karachi; Sindh CM directs orders authorities to assist those stranded in their homes. Photo: Pakistan Today. Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.
ISLAMABAD, Aug 27, 2020, Pakistan Today. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday (Aug 26) directed the federal institutions to carry out relief operations to help out rain-hit people in Karachi as heavy downpour brought life to a standstill in the port city, Pakistan Today reported.
“The federal government will not leave the people of Karachi alone,” said the prime minister as he appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Army and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for carrying out relief activities in the city.
Heavy rain hit Karachi on the third consecutive day, Wednesday, inundating low-lying areas. The heaviest-hit areas included Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Defence, Clifton, Korangi, II Chundrigar Road, Manzoor Colony, Hassan Square, Safari Park area, Nursery, etc. The rain system still hovers over Karachi, said Met Office. Business and social life remained disrupted due to the rain. The electricity in many areas of the city was suspended soon after the rain.
Rainwater remained accumulated in areas of Surjani town, Dada Bhoy Colony, Yousuf Goth, Safoora Goth, Manzoor Colony, Lyari, and others. The work was going on on the banks of Malir River to stop rainwater overflow as it had already flooded some areas of Quaidabad.
The Met Office confirmed to a local news agency that the 90-year record of the monsoon downpour had been broken after 345mm downpour was recorded at Karachi’s PAF Faisal Base in August this year, making it the wettest month since 1931.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said that he reviewed the plan for clearing Karachi nullahs/river beds. The work on cleaning Karachi sewage drains will start from next month after the approval of the plan.
“Reviewed NDMA plan for clearing nullahs/ river beds & solve problem of Karachi drowning every time it rains heavily. Inshallah will have plan approved and work started in Sep. Completion in 1 year. Largest tax-paying city of Pakistan deserves better than what it is facing today,” he tweeted.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also visited different rain-hit areas in Karachi and directed to speed up the water drainage system.
During the visit, the CM ordered the Karachi commissioner to help those stranded in their houses in Madina Town, Yar Muhammad Goth, Malir, and Sukkur Nullah due to rainwater and provide them with food and other things. “Will not leave the people alone in this time of need,” he pledged.
Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers Sindh dedicated 70 relief and rescue teams to assist the civil administration of Karachi in providing relief to the people in rain-induced flood-hit areas. The crisis teams gave prompt attention towards shifting several belongings endangered by the floods from Quaidabad and other closeby areas to safer places through Army Engineer boats.
According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, heavy rains in Karachi, owing to its current sixth monsoon spell, have adversely affected many localities. It further said that the situation is getting aggravated as causeways, bypass, and main thoroughfares have been affected due to severe flooding in Malir riverbank owing to the overflow of Lath and Thado dams in the suburbs after a heavy downpour in Kirthar range.
To address the situation, Pakistan Army Engineers were said to have developed 200 meters long and four feet high barrier, a makeshift arrangement to avoid flooding of M9, ensuring proper regulation of water.
Moreover, three different teams of Pakistan Army Engineers were deployed along the Mehran drain to avert its spillover and ensure that the K-Electric grid station remains uninundated.
Equal attention in this context was also paid towards the protection of Saadi Town and Malir Cantonment, with relief and rescue teams actively engaged in shifting people to safer places and providing them with adequate shelter.
Immediate de-watering was ensured in flooded areas of Gulshan e Hadeed, DHA, Gizri, Keamari, North Karachi, Nazimabad, Saddar, Landhi, Airport area, University Road, Saadi Town, Quaidabad, Yousaf Goth, Gulistan e Jauhar and those around PAF – Faisal, PAF – Masroor.
Pakistan Army personnel also distributed cooked meals among the evacuated people belonging to worst-hit areas of the metropolis.
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