Vigorous monsoon activity was expected in the coming days, the Met Office said on Saturday, adding that another low pressure was likely to approach Sindh on August 16.
“A depression has developed in the Arabian Sea which is likely to move towards the west along Makran coast,” the Pakistan Meteorological Department said in its update. “Due to this weather system, monsoon currents are continuously penetrating southern parts of the country.
“Thundershower (with few heavy falls) is expected in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir from August 14 to 16th with occasional gaps. Widespread rain and thundershowers (with scattered heavy to very heavy falls) are expected in Sindh and Balochistan from August 16 to 18th with occasional gaps,” it said.
The PMD warned that heavy rains may generate urban flooding in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Faisalabad, Lahore, and Gujranwala.
“Flash flooding is expected in Qilla Saifullah, Loralai, Barkhan, Kohlu, Mosa Khel, Sherani, Sibbi, Bolan, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbella, Awaran, Turbat, Panjgur, Pasni, Jiwani, Ormara, Gwadar and hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan during the forecast period from August 14 to 18th.”
It advised fishermen, travellers, and tourists to remain more cautious from August 16to 18th.
Sujrani Town records 60mm rain
The fourth spell of monsoon rain, which lulled for a day, restarted in Karachi on Friday night. Sixty millimetres of rain was recorded in Surjani Town, the highest over the last 24 hours, the Met Office said.
Showers were reported in MA Jinnah Road, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Saddar, II Chundrigar Road, Guru Mandir, Lasbela, Nazimabad, and Malir, leading to inundated streets in such areas.
Total rainfall (mm) recorded over the last 24 hours on Saturday at 0800:
| Stations | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|
| Surjani Town | 60 |
| Masroor Base | 40 |
| University Road | 43 |
| Orangi Town | 42 |
| Nazimabad | 38 |
| North Karachi | 37 |
| Saadi Town | 35 |
| Gulshan-e-Maymar | 31 |
| Korangi | 27 |
| Kemari | 22 |
| Gulshan-e-Hadeed | 20 |
| Gadap Town | 16 |
| Jinnah Terminal | 13 |
| Old Area AP | 12 |
| DHA Phase II | 12 |
| Saddar | 10 |
Another spell expected
Rain was expected to last till tomorrow (Sunday), weatherman Sardar Sarfaraz said earlier this week. “From 100mm to 150mm of rain is expected in Karachi in this spell.”
The chief meteorologist had predicted that another low-pressure monsoon spell might hit Sindh from August 17 or 18th after a gap of a few days.
Heavy rains might generate urban flooding in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas from August 11 to 13, the Met Office had predicted in its forecast.
Exams postponed
The fourth spell prompted the Karachi Intermediate Board to postpone exams for arts group students, including regular, private, and special candidates that were scheduled to be held on August 12. It would be held on August 23.
Students were about to appear for Islamic education, civics, ethics, and fine arts. The board has also directed the colleges to reschedule the practical exams.
Inundated streets
Rain in Karachi for people was like travelling in the wreckage, one of the residents on a bike told Aaj News. He was in the old city area where roads were inundated and damaged.
Another citizen lamented the condition of roads and doubted the use of funds for the city’s infrastructure. He added that such tracks lead to traffic jams and problems for people.
“We have left this city orphan and no one is ready to make investments here,” said another resident.
