Karachi braces for more storms

Karachi: Karachi is bracing itself for more rains and gusty winds while rescue workers cleared roads of fallen trees and billboards yesterday.

Electricity workers tried to restore power to the city, where some areas have been without supplies for more than 48 hours.

The government closed the city's beaches to the general public, and asked the army and navy to remain alert to cope with any emergency situation arising from the bad weather.

Met officials forecast heavy rains and winds over the next 24 hours, which could add to the woes of the residents of Pakistan's biggest city, already suffering from the aftermath of Saturday's rain and windstorms.

The government put the death toll from Saturday at 72, but rescue officials and hospital sources said the number was over 200. The provincial health minister put the number at 228 a day earlier.

Alert

"The governor of Sindh has requested the army and navy to stay alert and to deal with any eventuality," said Waeem Akhtar, provincial adviser on home affairs.

He said people living in the coastal areas of Sindh, as well as in the low-lying areas of Karachi, were being evacuated to safer places.

"All the beaches of Karachi, including Sea View and Hawks Bay, have been closed to the general public," he said.

Akhtar said the government had details of about 72 people killed since Saturday, but added the lists at the Edhi mortuaries were being verified, signalling the actual number could be higher.

Strong winds continued to blow in Karachi yesterday with isolated rain showers. Forecasts showed more bad weather was on the horizon, resulting in panicky citizens leaving offices early and rushing back home.

Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman Chauhdry, Director General of Meteorological Services, said the Monsoon Weather System over the Indian state of Gujarat has entered the North Arabian Sea and was moving towards Karachi.

"It is likely to intensify into a tropical cyclone, and move in a West/Northwesterly direction," he said.

"Under its influence widespread rains and strong gusty winds are likely in Sindh especially in southern and coastal areas including Karachi," Chaudhry said, adding the coastal areas of Balochistan were also likely to be affected.

Sea conditions will be very rough to extremely rough along Sindh coast, and hence fishermen are advised to halt activities until the 27th and those in Balochistan until the 28th, he said.

Mumbai and its surrounding suburbs got a respite from heavy showers yesterday as water receded from most flooded localities and transport services were restored. But by evening the city was once again hit by heavy rains and strong winds.

The heavy downpour on Sunday took its toll on human life with five people killed in Mumbai and nearly 20 people killed in Maharashtra. A landslide in the north-eastern suburb of Chembur claimed the lives of two slum dwellers while two others were killed when a partially demolished building collapsed near the Novelty cinema.

In another incident, two children were injured when part of a dilapidated building in Kurla, collapsed under heavy rains. The balcony crashed down on the youngsters who are now being treated in Sion Hospital.

Three youths drowned after being dragged in to the sea by high tides on Harihareshwar beach in the coastal Raigad district while they were posing for photographs. Their friends tried to rescue them but the currents were too strong. A missing persons complaint has been lodged at the Srivardhan police station. The rough seas also caused a barge to sink off Raigad.

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said yesterday at least 20 districts of Maharashtra were affected by heavy rains but said the state was in readiness to provide relief. Due to flooding in Sangli district, nearly 130 families in Miraj division were shifted to a relief camp.

Water logging in several areas of Mumbai has brought the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation under severe criticism after it did not clear the garbage that was removed from clogged drains prior to monsoon.

As a warning to residents from the Disaster Control state cell, mobile companies sent text messages to users yesterday morning warning of "the possibility of heavy rainfall in the city and suburbs."

- Pamela Raghunath, Correspondent