Floods in Karachi
The monsoon rainfalls entered South Asia in the mid of June 2022. Pakistan’s largest city Karachi experienced monsoon rainfalls but due to poor drainage system of the city and negligence of the authorities towards countries issues, these rainfalls turned out to be a huge disaster for Pakistan’s largest city. Since past 2 days Karachi has been flooded due to monsoon rains.
The port city received high amounts of rainfall with PAF Base Masroor recording rainfall of 119.5mm. DHA Phase-II received 106mm of rain while 76mm was recorded in Quaidabad. 65 mm at PAF Base Faisal, 56mm in Orangi Town, 49mm at Old Terminal, 46mm in Gulshan-e-Hadeed and 29mm at Jinnah Terminal. The nullahs of the city have been jammed and the whole city seems to be sinking in water due to 10 hrs. rainfall. As per the initial reports from PDMA, 26 people have been died due to floods with 11 injured. Many people became homeless, some with business destroyed and some electrocuted.
Government’s Response
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif called CM Murad Ali Shah of Sindh and offered support from the federal government. He Tweeted,
Sindh Government is trying to manage the situation caused after floods and rescuing people from these floods. The relevant government authorities have been working to improve the drainage situation in the city.
Rangers and Military Support
Pak army and Sindh rangers immediately responded after the city’s situation and started conducting relief operations in the city.
Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday, after directly arriving on the port of Karachi from Saudi Arabia, called for “all-out efforts” to provide relief to the people. He directed the Karachi Corps to provide all means of support to the people and conduct rescue operations in the flooded areas.
“He directed Karachi Corps to ensure that all-out efforts and every single resource is utilized to bring comfort to the people,” the ISPR said.
COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa flew over the city to monitor the situation.
Pak Army and Rangers have been working with the management in opening the jammed drainage pipelines of the city and draining water from the heavily affected areas. Army and Ranger troops are also employed in rescue, relief and dewatering effort in various affected areas of Karachi and are working side by side with concerned departments. Currently, 388 dewatering teams of Army, CBC and DHA are continuously working to drain water from various affected areas especially Southern district of Karachi. Water level at few places has already receded due to extensive joint efforts. Apart from that Army and Rangers troops are continuously helping public stranded on the roads.
Till now Pak Army and Rangers have rescued many people and currently are conducting operations in the flooded city.
Author: Ali Hassan
#TeamPakistanStrategicForum
