KARACHI: The coastal districts of Sindh received heavy downpour for two consecutive days, disrupting routine life and causing major towns and cities to come to a standstill due to their ill-maintained infrastructure.
At least 20 persons and over a dozen sacrificial animals were reportedly killed due to electrocution and in other rain-related incidents over three days in the metropolis.
The majority of the deaths were reported due to electrocution, despite the fact that several areas of the city faced prolonged power outages.
Despite the emergency imposed by the provincial government and the city administration, most of Karachi’s areas were submerged. Low-lying areas in many parts of the metropolis remained inundated with rainwater till Tuesday.
Meanwhile, most districts of Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions were also swamped. Many areas of Hyderabad city, Badin, Thatta, Mirpurkhas and other towns remained under knee-deep water despite continuous efforts to drain the rainwater.
At least 20 persons, including a woman, a girl and three friends, died of electrocution and other rain-related incidents on Saturday and Sunday.
Three friends, identified as Hamza, 21, Mohammad Faizan, 20, and Talha, 22, were electrocuted on Khayab-e-Seher on Sunday. Police said that the deceased were travelling on their motorcycle and were headed to the K-Electric’s office to lodge a complaint against the power breakdown. All three friends were students and lived in the same building located in Defence Garden Phase 1 near Tooba Masjid, said Darakhshan Police Station SHO Shahjahan Lashari. The FIR of the incident was registered against the power utility’s chairman, CEO and other officials.
Meanwhile, a 35-year-old man, Mohammad Umair, resident of Sarafa Bazaar was electrocuted near Kharadar. Police said that Umair’s sacrificial cow also died at the same location. A 55-year-old woman, Khuwar Khanum, was reportedly electrocuted in her home located in Shehar Khanabad within the limits of Pirabad police station. SHO Amjad Kalyan said that the deceased was electrocuted when she was draining out rainwater from her home.
Rais Nawab, 25, was electrocuted to death in Mianwali Colony, Manghopir. Another victim, later identified as Rahim Jan, died from electrocution in Memon Goth.
Separately, a seven-year-old girl drowned in a water tank in Naval Police Quarters, Baldia. Danish, 17, fell down from a rooftop and died in Sherpao Colony, Landhi. Another young man, Mohammad Faiz, 18, died in a roof collapse incident in Qasba Colony. Faiz’s brother, Mohamamd Jan, 22, was also injured in the incident.
A 30-year-old man, Nasir, died in another incident of roof collapse in Bhutta Village, Keamari. A man identified as Rasheed Khan died in a wall collapse in Pipri. Besides, 18-year-old Abdul Nasir, was electrocuted to death on Tipu Sultan Road on Tuesday. The deceased was employed as a security guard of an apartment building located in the area. (INP)
