Meteorological Department forecasts heavy rain, thunderstorm

KARACHI: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday forecasted the third spell of monsoon in Karachi where heavy rain and thunderstorm is expected in the port city between July 26 and July 27.

According to the met department chief Sardar Sarfaraz, a low-pressure area is expected in India’s Gujrat on July 24 that would enter Pakistan through Indian Rann of Kutch affecting the sea’s southwestern wind.

Earlier on July 7, the first spell of torrential rains had wreaked havoc in the metropolis, bringing the much-feared load-shedding in multiple neighbourhoods despite claims from the sole power supplying company, the K-Electric, that it had made improvements in its system ahead of the forecasted thunderstorm.

According to data provided by the authority, the highest rainfall was recorded in Saddar, at 43 millimetres (mm), while 26 mm was registered at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Faisal Base, 22mm in Nazimabad, 12mm at PAF Masroor Base, 8.8mm at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, 3.1mm in Landhi, and 1.2mm in Surjani Town.

Despite the PMD’s early forecast, there seemed to be no plan to manage the traffic disruption from related authorities. Limited visibility due to heavy rain disrupted traffic flow at Shahrah-e-Faisal, while rainwater stagnated near Quaidabad Bridge.

However, during the second spell of monsoon on July 17, two people, including a police officer, had died of electrocution in the city as rain battered the metropolis, leaving the city’s main roads and streets submerged in water.

Constable Irshad Ali was on-duty at the Water Pump in the city’s Ibrahim Hyderi area when he died as a result of an electric shock. Another person in the city’s Clifton area succumbed to electrocution.

Areas that received rainfall included Jamshed Road, Model Colony, Saddar, Clifton, Malir, Gulistan-e-Johar, Dhoraji, Bahadurabad, PECHS, Soldier Bazaar, University Road, Gulshan-e-Hadid, Abdullah Haroon Road, Shah Faisal Colony, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Fawwara Chowk, M.A. Jinnah Road, and Garden.