Chaos rains down on Karachi.

KARACHI -- Casualties, prolonged power breakdowns, overflowing drains and inundated streets with bumper-to-bumper traffic - with the forecast of monsoon rains and urban flooding in Karachi, these too were easy to foresee. Yet it appeared the authorities, at least, failed to take adequate steps to address these entirely predictable problems.

Consequently, as the first spell of monsoon rains struck the metropolis on Monday afternoon, the city was swept into chaos - even with barely an hour of rainfall.

Strong dusty winds hit the city at 60 kilometres per hour before the downpour began. The rain continued for about an hour in areas including Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Landhi, Bin Qasim, Malir, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Clifton, Defence Housing Authority, Qayumabad, Bahadurabad, Korangi, University Road, Nazimabad, Shah Faisal Colony and Saddar.

Though mercury had soared past 40 degrees Celsius earlier in the day due to hot winds blowing in from Balochistan and a lull in southwestern winds, the thunderstorm brought the temperature down to a pleasant 29 degrees Celsius.

Power outages

The first smattering of raindrops saw the power supply badly disrupted across the city, with electricity going out for hours in several areas. Korangi, North Nazimabad, North Karachi, Baldia Town, Malir, Bhains Colony, Keamari, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Liaquatabad and the old city areas were among the localities worst hit by power outages.

While sources in K-Electric (KE) claimed the electricity supply was quickly restored in most areas, other neighbourhoods were without power for over eight hours, adding to the misery of citizens who had already been subjected to prolonged load-shedding by the utility company in recent days.

According to sources, over 400 KE feeders tripped, while ruptured cables were also reported in several areas.

KE spokespersons, however, claimed that the power supply was suspended as a precautionary measure, to avoid any loss of life due to electrocution amid the downpour.

Flooded roads

Meanwhile, traffic snarled up on major arteries of the city as water began to stand on the streets, turning short commutes into an ordeal of hours. Ambulances too could be seen trapped in the bumper-to-bumper queues.

Gridlocks quickly emerged at Sharae Faisal, Tipu Sultan Road, Karsaz, Tower, II Chundrigar Road, Five Star Chowrangi, Main Korangi Road, Expressway, Hyderi and Boat Basin, among other areas.

According to a traffic police spokesperson, the flow of vehicles had been slowed...

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