KARACHI: Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah on Monday directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to stay in the field with dewatering pumps and machinery as heavy monsoon rains continue to lash Karachi and other parts of Sindh.
Chairing an emergency meeting, the Chief Secretary asked traffic police to issue regular updates for citizens and ordered district administration, Rescue 1122, and police officers to remain present in affected areas. He also instructed town chairmen to drain rainwater from inner streets to prevent urban flooding.
Director General PDMA Salman Shah informed the meeting that 16 dewatering pumps have already been installed across the city. Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab further directed authorities to clear nullahs and set up pumps along main roads to keep traffic flowing.
Senior officials from local bodies, traffic police, and PDMA attended the meeting.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the rain spell is likely to persist until September 10, with heavy to very heavy showers forecast for September 9 and 10 in Karachi. Low-lying areas in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Tharparkar, Larkana, Sukkur, Khairpur, and other districts are at risk of urban flooding.
The Met Office said the rains are linked to a low pressure system moving from India’s Madhya Pradesh into Rajasthan and Sindh, bringing strong monsoon currents into the province and eastern Punjab.
Yesterday, Tharparkar’s Nagarparkar received 80mm rainfall, while Mithi recorded 51mm, Kaloi 30mm, and Diplo and Chhore 29mm each. More downpours in flood-affected Punjab could worsen the situation in the coming days.
Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious as Karachi and Sindh brace for further heavy showers.
