Karachi flooded after heavy rains

Heavy rains lashed the port city of Karachi yesterday, resulting in flooded streets, massive traffic jams and long hours of power failure in most neighbourhoods.

The meteorological department recorded 44-millimetre of rain till 5.00pm and predicted more showers in the next 24 hours.

"It's good to have rains after such a long time," said Tara Mobeen, a young housewife, as she waited inside a shop for the drizzle to stop in the posh Clifton area. "The flooding of streets and electricity shutdowns are a part of living in Karachi," she said.

Outside, traffic moved at snail's pace on the flooded road. Several vehicles got stuck as water choked their silencers.

Karachi, a teeming city of around 14 million people, has witnessed rain after almost one year. The city administration says that it is poorly-equipped to repair and clean the drainage and sewerage system.

But many accuse the administration of inefficiency and corruption.

Mohammed Yaqoob, a retired government servant, said the drainage and sewerage system should have been cleaned ahead of the start of the monsoon season.

"But those in power simply don't care. Once rains are over, most neighbourhoods will rot with stagnant water, filth and garbage for weeks," he said.

In many localities, including the affluent Defence Housing Authority, PECHS and Gulshan-e-Iqbal, overhead electricity supply-wires broke.

In low income and poor neighbourhoods including Shah Faisal Colony, Malir and Lyari the situation of the flooding of streets and power failures remained even worse.