Karachi Gets a Holiday After Heavy Rain Causes Chaos

Karachi Gets a Holiday After Heavy Rain Causes Chaos

KARACHI: The Sindh government has announced a public holiday today (Wednesday) for the entire city of Karachi. This decision comes after very heavy monsoon rain caused serious problems across the city.

All government and private schools and colleges in Karachi will also remain closed.

What Happened?

On Tuesday, heavy rain lashed Karachi, leading to major power outages (load-shedding), huge traffic jams, and flooded streets. The situation became so bad that Karachi's Mayor, Murtaza Wahab, declared a "rain emergency." The weather office has also warned that more rain is expected.

Some areas of the city received a huge amount of water. Here are the rainfall numbers for a few key areas:

* Gulshan-e-Hadeed: 170 mm

* Airport Area: 158.5 mm

* Nazimabad: 149.6 mm

* Defence Phase 2: 134 mm

* University Road: 133 mm

Many people spent the night without electricity, facing great difficulty.

What Are the Authorities Doing?

* The Mayor has cancelled all leave for city staff so they can focus on emergency work.

* An emergency cell has been set up to coordinate efforts between different departments like water drainage, fire brigade, and rescue services.

* Police are on high alert. They have been ordered to help with traffic, drainage, and protecting people's lives and property, especially in low-lying areas that get flooded easily.

Important Advice for Citizens:

1. Avoid unnecessary travel. Stay home if you can. The roads are dangerous and flooded.

2. Stay away from electric poles and wires. There is a high risk of electrocution during rains.

3. If you have an emergency, you can call:

* Police: 15

* Governor House Rain Helpline: 1366 (This helpline is active 24/7)

Minister Saeed Ghani and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah are monitoring the situation and have instructed all departments to work on an emergency basis to help people.

The government's message is clear: "Citizens will not be left alone in these difficult times."