April 18, 2024

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Thursday revised its weather advisory for Karachi as the government decided to impose a rain emergency in the metropolis. With various areas across Balochistan still receiving downpours, Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz said that the city is unlikely to witness heavy rain. According to him, the rain system from Balochistan was entering Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to which both the provinces are likely to witness heavy rains. However, Sarfraz underscored that southwestern province remains under threat as there’s a forecast of torrential rains along the its coastal belt. “Heavy rain is falling in some parts of Balochistan,” the chief meteorologist added. On the other hand, light rain hit different parts of Karachi including Numaish Chowrangi, MA Jinnah Road, Saddar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karimabad, Safoora and their adjacent areas. Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Karachi Water Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) Engineer Asadullah Khan on Wednesday dispatched 55 suction machines to all important highways of the city. In a video statement, he stated that Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab had imposed a rain emergency in anticipation of rain by the meteorological department. Khan added that the water corporation had completed all arrangements to tackle the rain. Khan mentioned that the KWSC possesses a total of 55 suction machines, and prior to the expected rain, these machines would be deployed to all significant highways and different locations in the city’s “deep areas”. Executive Engineer Workshop Division Shafqat Hussain and the relevant Executive Engineer would oversee all vehicles, he said. He assured that all sewerage pumping stations would remain operational with the assistance of generators in case of power outages. Moreover, a substantial quantity of diesel had been delivered to the sewage pumping stations. During the announcement, Khan urged citizens not to remove manhole covers during the rainy season, emphasising that sewer manholes were not intended for rainwater drainage. The COO KWSC stated that all the KWSC staff, especially the sewerage personnel, were on high alert, leading to the cancellation of leave for the engineering wing staff. The management of the KWSC was fully prepared with manpower to handle the rain and any possible scenarios, maintaining constant communication with all other local bodies, including the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), he said. Khan further emphasised that the KWSC staff were working around the clock to serve the public, with water corporation vehicles and employees remaining on the roads until rainwater drainage was completed. He also urged the citizens to refrain from unnecessary movement and avoid leaving their homes unnecessarily in case of rains. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1179732-rain-emergency-measures-imposed-in-karachi-amid-pmds-weather-advisory-revision

Heavy rains and flash floods have swept parts of the Gulf region, killing at least 18 people in Oman and causing travel disruption in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In Oman, the death toll announced on Tuesday included at least nine schoolchildren and their driver whose vehicle was washed away by the floodwaters in Samad A’Shan on Sunday. The National Committee for Emergency Management said rescue teams were still searching for two missing people. The government gave administrative staff in public and private sectors the day off due to the bad weather conditions in several provinces, while remote work was recommended in other parts of the sultanate. Residents were also urged to evacuate to shelters if they felt they were in danger or asked by authorities to do so. Police and soldiers were deployed to the hardest-hit province of Ash Sharqiyah North to transport citizens out of flooded areas, according to state media.Play Video Video Duration 00 minutes 48 seconds00:48 Flooding in UAE Meanwhile, heavy rainfall also lashed the neighbouring UAE on Tuesday, flooding portions of major highways and leaving vehicles abandoned on roadways across Dubai. The rains began overnight, leaving massive ponds on streets as whipping winds disrupted flights at Dubai international airport. Schools across the country largely shut before the storm and government employees were working remotely if able. Many workers stayed home as well, though some ventured out, with the unfortunate stalling out their vehicles in deeper-than-expected water covering some roads. Authorities sent tanker trucks into the streets and highways to pump away the water. Initial estimates suggested more than 30mm (1.2 inches) of rain fell over the morning in Dubai, with as much as 128mm (5 inches) of rain expected throughout the day. Rain also fell in Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/16/heavy-rains-kill-18-in-oman-as-flash-floods-lash-uae