Saturday, August 29, 2020

Karachi Struggles To Stay Afloat


via https://youtu.be/7sx6RUfrnqM Though the storm had passed, it left a devastated city in its wake on Friday, reeling from the record-breaking downpour the previous day and worried about the prediction of more rainfall. For the most part of the day, the city remained largely deprived of electricity, potable water and cellular phone and internet services, leaving citizens in shell-shocked even as they tried to deal with their flooded homes. While several thoroughfares - such as MA Jinnah Road, Sharae Faisal and Sharae Pakistan, which resembled rivers more than roads the previous day - saw the water receding, the rainwater remained on the smaller streets. Low-lying areas in numerous localities remained inundated with filthy, garbage-ridden water after sewers overflowed, while several roads were marred by potholes and cracks. In some of these areas, including Gulzar-e-Hijri, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Azizabad, Ghareebabad, Liaquatabad, Orangi Town, Surjani Town and others, residents were left with no choice but to leave their homes and find shelter elsewhere. However, neighbourhoods in the vicinity of Gujjar nullah, which overflowed during the rain and caused flooding in nearby localities, were also cleared of water for the most part, as residents continue to wipe the water out of their inundated houses. Others concurred, holding the Sindh government responsible for their misery and terming Karachi's state clear evidence of the authorities' incompetence. Meanwhile, with power supply not restored in much of the city even over 36 hours after it was cut-off, residents of many areas took to the streets in protest, angered by the situation being worsened by the lack of electricity and subsequent water shortages. Meanwhile, a K-Electric spokesperson stated that it was an unusual situation, with the city witnessing excessive rain. He said rainwater had collected in substations, causing difficulties in ensuring the uninterrupted supply of power, adding that electricity was being restored in the areas where the water had been cleared.

No comments:

Post a Comment