KARACHI: As the city like many other parts of Sindh continued to receive showers on Monday, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) declared 288 buildings in the metropolis ‘dangerous’ and ‘requested’ the residents to immediately vacate the dilapidated structures.

The current monsoon rains have increased the chances of their collapse, which can endanger hundreds of lives, according to an SBCA statement.

“A list of 288 buildings has been compiled by the SBCA technical committee on a directive of acting director general Mumtaz Haider,” said the SBCA statement.

Announcements and requests were made through loudspeakers in the vulnerable areas so that the residents urgently “vacate the dilapidated buildings which have become dangerous. During the current rainy season chances of their collapse always remain higher,” it added.

Comprising senior architects and engineers, the SBCA technical committee declared the buildings dangerous after a thorough survey. The monsoon rains can further erode these structures most of which have been occupied for years, according to the statement.

“The SBCA has also set up an emergency centre with phone number 021-99232354. The people are advised to contact at this number in case of any mishap pertaining to the buildings,” it added.

More rains forecast

Widespread rain-thundershower is expected in Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad divisions of Sindh, while isolated moderate to heavy showers have been forecast for Karachi division, according to the meteorological department.

An official at the Met office said the maximum amount of rainfall received on Monday in Karachi — 35 millimetres — was recorded in Gulshan-i-Hadeed. Thatta received 29mm rainfall, followed by Badin, Jacobabad, Islamkot and Nagarparkar where 26mm rainfall was recorded. Mirpurkhas and Dadu received 23mm rainfall.

In Karachi, the Met Office recorded 14mm rainfall at Faisal Base, 11mm at airport, 8mm on University Road and 2mm rainfall at Saddar and Masoor Base, he said while referring to a daily weather report.

“The fresh spell of rain started around 3:30am that continued after the sunrise but it was scattered and low in intensity or drizzling in most parts of the city.”

He said the minimum and maximum temperatures recorded in the city on Monday were 30 and 27 degrees Celsius. He said there were strong chances of downpour within next 48 hours.

“Owing to heavy rains in Sindh, the sea conditions are likely to remain rough to very rough along the Sindh-Makran coast during next 48 hours as the fishermen have already warned to remain cautious and careful,” the official said.

Quick response

Meanwhile, Sindh police chief Ghulam Hyder Jamali chairing a meeting at the central police office has directed additional IGs and DIGs to employ all available resources across the province for quick response in case of a flood-like situation.

“For this purpose, an operation room has also been set up at the CPO,” said a CPO statement.

People can access the operation room for police assistance by calling at 021-99213081, 99212065 and 99212064 and over fax at 021-99213836.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2015

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