Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has not visited Karachi after the heavy rains, is arriving Friday. He is expected to announce a package for the improvement of transport, roads, electricity and water supply, the sources said.
I am aware of the challenges that people in Karachi are facing, PM Khan told beat reporters. He added that the government will not leave people alone in this difficult time.
Imran Ismail, the Sindh governor, has also confirmed that PM Khan is going to announce a “Karachi transformation plan”
The governor added that the federal government has already taken all stakeholders in Karachi on board over the city’s transformation plan.
At least 41 people were killed in rain-related incidents during the recent spell of monsoon rains, according to the head of the Edhi Foundation.
Met Office DG Sardar Sarfaraz told SAMAA Digital that this monsoon has broken a 90-year record in August.
Karachi: rains drowning a city
Seventeen deaths were reported a day before and 24 last Thursday.
The government of Sindh has set up a helpline for residents of rain-affected areas at Karachi’s Commissioner House.
The numbers are 021-99203443 and 021-99205634.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced a public holiday on Friday after the devastating torrential rains. Hyderabad was also badly affected, with the army rescuing people in boats.
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All government, semi-government and private organizations remained closed Friday. However, offices of essential services such as local bodies, health department, the water board, PDMA and revenue will remain open.
Met Office DG Sardar Sarfaraz reported that this monsoon has broken a 90-year record in the month of August. As much as 484mm (19 inches) has fallen this month, Reuters quoted Sarfaraz as saying, with 130mm recorded on Thursday.
Since morning, 73.4mm of rain was recorded across the city.
Moderate to heavy rain was reported in PECHS, Clifton, DHA, Saddar, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Mai Kolachi, II Chundrigar Road, Model Colony, Airport, Jamshed Quarters, Navy Housing Scheme on Dalmia Road, Korangi, Landhi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 13, Garden East, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Federal B Area, Guru Mandir, Nazimabad, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Liaquatabad and Jamshed Road.
Very light rain was reported Wednesday night, with the most rain being 6.5mm recorded in Landhi.
More rain is expected throughout the day.
Several areas are now submerged, including DHA Phase VI, Tariq Road, MA Jinnah Road and Nagan Chowrangi.
Hub Dam filled to the brim
The water level of the Hub Dam, the dam that provides water to residents of Sindh and Balochistan, has reached it a record high of 338 feet.
After it hits the 339-foot level the water will start overflowing from the dam’s spillways. The Hub Dam was last full during the rains of 2007.
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The record has been broken this year as more than eight feet of water was recorded in the dam within the last three days. More water is expected to come through the catchment areas.
According to the Irrigation Department, the rise in water level poses a flood threat in the Hub River. An emergency situation has been declared in the neighbouring residential areas and people are being evacuated.
An alert has also been issued by the Water and Power Development Authority and officers and rescue officials are being dispatched to the area.
GVS News Desk