Karachi receives first rainfall of new monsoon system

KARACHI: The residents of Karachi were elated as the city received the first rainfall of a new monsoon system on Tuesday (today), bringing relief from mugginess caused by hot and humid weather.    

The areas that received heavy rainfall included Sohrab Goth, Safoora Goth, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Saddar, Defense, Clifton and Landhi. It started raining at around 3:00pm in the afternoon, inundating thoroughfares, roads and low-lying areas.

Earlier, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned against urban flooding in Karachi and other parts of Lower Sindh from Tuesday till Friday due to rainfall caused by strong monsoon currents.

Other parts of the country will also receive light to heavy rainfall, the weather department predicted on Monday.

According to the met office, strong monsoon currents are likely to penetrate southern parts of the country, while moderate currents in the upper parts and Kashmir region from Tuesday to Friday.

It said widespread rainfall with thunderstorm is expected at isolated places in Hazara, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad, DG Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Kalat, Quetta, Sibbi, Zhob, Naseerabad, Islamabad and Kashmir region, whereas hot and humid weather is expected elsewhere in the country in the next 24 hours.

Radio Pakistan quoting the weather department has said that heavy rainfall may cause urban flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad and Mirpur Khas divisions on Wednesday and Thursday.

It said flash flooding is also expected in the vulnerable Nullas/streams of eastern Balochistan during the period.

The recent rains in Karachi and other cities of Pakistan during the ongoing monsoon season, wreaked havoc on the normal life and creaking infrastructure, which lacks proper municipal facilities and investment. Moreover, dozens of people died in heavy rains across the country.