KARACHI: While most dilapidated roads of the metropolis have completely been washed away in recent rains, the Met Office has predicted that the ongoing spell of the downpour is nowhere near to an end, indicating that more destruction of the fragile infrastructure of this provincial capital is about to happen.

Meanwhile key link roads have caved in, standing rainwater in many areas has mixed with spilling sewage and thoroughfares have been rendered unusable both for pedestrians and motorists after rains.

Although Sharea Faisal has mostly remained unaffected during the recent rains, the fresh spell of downpour has brought back the same old miseries for Karachiites, which they have been suffering for the past many years.

The rains going on since August 27 have so far been counted at near 226 millimetres across all seven districts of the city.

Potholes, broken roads, and sewage running through streets cripple civic life in metropolis

The moderate to heavy rainfall in different parts of the city have raised serious challenges for Karachiites in shape of broken roads, potholes and sewage running through the streets.

In Clifton Block-2, the situation has taken a turn for the worse after a road had caved in leaving the link disconnected with other parts of the city.

Videos and photos of a truck stuck up in the affected road has gone viral on social media platforms.

The situation of Jehnagir Road near Teen Hatti is not different where the recently built road has almost destroyed in the fresh rains.

In Korangi, a major link road connecting the densely-populated neighbourhood with Landhi becomes almost unusable both for motorists and pedestrians as potholes and overflowing sewers have started causing road accidents.

A 24-inch sewage line beneath Tariq Road has also collapsed during the rains.

University Road, which was already in ruins due to construction of the multi-billion-rupee BRT Red Line, has become a nightmare for motorists where several spots have developed into bottlenecks for vehicles causing severe traffic jams.

The situation on University Road was not very different near Safari Park where accumulated rainwater and overflowing sewage have created quite a challenge for road users.

The insides of neighbourhoods are in shambles; streets of almost all residential areas, service roads and arteries which connect different housing societies to main links are in worse shape as most town administrations have complained about lack of resources, manpower and authority to execute post-rain repair operations, which mainly include drainage of accumulated rainwater from areas.

Meanwhile, the filthy sewage has also seeped into water supply lines exposing residents of affected localities to serious health hazards.

A 30-inch line in Block-5 and an 18-inch line in Block-15 of the Gulistan-i-Jauhar also caved in during rains.

Besides an 18-inch sewerage line has collapsed in Jahanabad in Sohrab Goth Town.

SWSC Chief Engineer Aftab Alam says that the repair work on the damaged sewerage line in Tariq Road will be carried, while the other damaged lines would be repaired soon.

The water utility officials say that the sewerage lines have been damaged and collapsed mainly due to accumulation of stagnant rainwater on roads and streets.

Meanwhile, a KWSC spokesperson says that the corporation officials are working on an emergency basis to repair various sewage lines.

He said that the repair work of damaged 24-inch sewer line in Sohrab Goth Town was going on which would be completed by Sunday afternoon. Besides, he said, repair work on the main sewerage line of 24-inch diameter in Nazimabad was also in progress.

Minister expresses hope amid criticism

The challenge was reflected in the recent comments of Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, who had said that “speedy drainage of the accumulated rainwater from the affected areas of Karachi is the topmost priority of the Sindh government”.

Mr Ghani while talking to elected representatives of the local bodies during his visit to different areas said that the municipal agencies in Karachi would soon complete the drainage operation to clear roads and streets from accumulated rainwater.

He visited the Liberty Chowk area on Tariq Road to inspect the work to repair a 24-inch diameter sewage line that collapsed during rains and later visited different areas of the District East, including Safoora Town, to inspect the drainage operation.

“The staffers of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, towns, and union committees are fully engaged in extending emergency relief to the people after heavy rains. The work will immediately start to repair damaged roads and streets after the monsoon rains come to an end.”

The opposition parties, however, don’t trust the government’s words.

Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi chief Ameer Monem Zafar held a press conference on broken Jahangir Road, highlighting the alleged misappropriation of funds in Karachi and the post-rain scenario.

Accompanied by JI elected representatives, the opposition party leader held the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party government in Sindh, the local bodies department and the so-called mayor responsible for the destruction of infrastructure.

“The mayor himself admitted that 11 recently built or carpeted roads had been flushed away in the rains,” he said.

“Once the city of lights, Karachi has been reflecting the image of a ruined city despite heavy investment of funds, at least on paper.

“Some Rs490 million was earmarked before the rains in order to clear the rain drains, but nothing happened on the ground till date. As a result, almost all rain drains in Karachi are overflowing during the rains, causing immense problems for commuters.”

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan called it “consistent failure and corruption of the PPP government” which had “ruined the city” and dashed the hopes of the Karachi people.

In a statement it said that the monsoon every year “exposed the failure” of the PPP government and again the current season washed away “all claims of the PPP mayor”.

“The people are stranded on flooded roads,” it said.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2024