Reading Time: 4 minutes Urban flooding has devastating effects on cities, especially cities in Pakistan. The government usually blames these consequences on the severity of monsoon rains and climate change, but these are not the sole subjects of the issue. Poor planning is one of the main reasons for Karachi flooding during the monsoon season.
According to the Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD), the country is under the influence of heavy monsoon rains raging from Central India to Gwadar. Karachi, one of the largest metropolises in the country, is likely to experience moderate to heavy rain showers.
The last few days have brought a lashing weather system of intermittent rain over Karachi. The city’s citizens have not been able to enjoy the cool weather as they suffer from prolonged power outages, flooding, and waterlogging. Read about the agricultural sector of Pakistan.
According to the Met Office, wind power was recorded at eighty-one kilometers per hour in the port city. Moreover, the pre-monsoon system remained constant in Balochistan for many days. The system strengthened when it entered Karachi’s warm and humid climate.
The Metrological department followed the rain system as it entered Karachi from Lasbela with strong winds. The PMD maintains that moist currents from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are expected to cross upper areas of Pakistan from 29th June, intensifying as they expand towards southern regions.
Due to the spread of this weather system, the country is expecting more wind, rain, and thunderstorms, centered around Islamabad, Swat, Mansehra, Sargodha, Kashmir, Kohistan, Swabi, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Kohat, Nowshera, Kurram, Rawalpindi, Hafizabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Jhelum, Attock, Murree, Chakwal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Okara, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Sheikhupura, and Jhang between 9th and 10th July.
Unfortunately, such heavy downpours generate urban flooding in cities like Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Peshawar. Additionally, experts have warned citizens of Kashmir, Kalat, Bolan, Lasbela, and Khuzdar about flash flooding in local Nullahs during this downpour.
Karachi is one of the most affected cities in Pakistan during heavy monsoon rains. The city is a massive metropolitan and Industrial asset, but a lack of urban planning has unleashed catastrophe across the city during this forecast period.
Urban flooding has devastating effects on cities, especially cities in Pakistan. The government usually blames these consequences on the severity of monsoon rains and climate change, but these are not the sole subjects of the issue. Poor planning is one of the main reasons for Karachi flooding during the monsoon season.
Karachi’s two main nullas (storm water drains) are seasonal rivers, Lyari and Malir. These water bodies stem from the foothills of the Kirthar range and flow parallel to each other for almost 20 kilometers. From these river’s catchment areas, fifty-eight water drains transport stormwater and approximately 600 more minor drains transport water into these nullas.
These drains are insufficient to flush out monsoon rain water from the city’s urban areas. The citizens face difficulties in the road and air travel. Even the flight schedule at Jinnah International Airport is updated according to weather conditions causing delays and cancellations on many flights. The recent rain spell sunk MA Jinnah Road, which was blocked for safety reasons.
The city administration planned to resolve this crisis by dumping excess debris onto the road and diverting the congested traffic to one side. Traveling on one track causes severe traffic jams, and citizens fear driving in the flooded area. Additionally, the sewerage system in the surrounding area was disrupted due to recent rain.
Moreover, urban flooding affects power lines and transporters, which can cause electrocution. Therefore, Karachi’s power supplying company, K-Electric, strictly advised the citizens to be cautious of rain puddles near power lines. KE also recommended the residents be wary of electrical appliances and keep their distance from uncovered or broken wires, internet and TV cables, transformers, and electric poles.
The company is constantly monitoring the situation, and all the field workers are on high alert for emergencies. A KE spokesperson also stated that the power supply to low-lying areas might be cut due to water inundation.
Karachi does not experience much rain due to its climate, but the Meteorological Department predicted that the city had received torrential rain this month. Sadly, twenty-seven people lost their lives, and numerous others were severely injured. The situation escalated with the celebratory customs of Eid-ul-Azha as countless cattle markets set up in various locations along with the central market on Superhighway flooded.
The animals and the owners suffered greatly as prices plummeted due to the downpour and filth in the markets. The recent rain spell completely broke down urban life. Poor infrastructure design, traffic management, clogged drainage systems, mismanaged intersections, underground sewerage flooding, and debris-filled sidewalks halt citizens’ lives.
Moreover, the drainage spills and insufficient direction of rainwater flow rendered the streets and transit almost unusable. Why are the consequences of monsoon rains so severe in Karachi? Why does the city stop functioning on account of rainy weather?
Karachi is the largest city in Pakistan, with only two landfill sites almost forty kilometers from the city’s outskirts. Accumulated garbage from the entire city failed to reach these landfill sites due to lousy time management and monetary issues.
According to Karachi’s notorious urban panner, Professor Arif Hasan, the recycling industry, mainly in the informal sector, has grown over the past few years. His research showed that contractors pay KMC administrators to leave the garbage in the city so they can collect recyclable items.
Additionally, the non-recyclable material is dumped into nullas, informal dumping sites, and natural drainage systems within the city. These drainage systems have been stuffed with garbage and sewage to such an extent that all of their endpoints are entirely blocked. Therefore, they cannot directly drain the rainwater into the sea. So, even the slightest amount of rainwater cannot enter these drainage pipes, resulting in urban flooding.
Due to capitalist urbanization, Karachi’s topography has been thoroughly altered without regard to infrastructure, urban planning, and management. Projects like road widening, underpass construction, or road settlement are passed with local engineer benchmarks. The low quality of work causes disasters like the flooding of Super Highway and its surrounding areas.
Karachi has the natural resources to manage monsoon season effectively and avoid injuries, loss of lives and homes, and power cuts. However, these resources have been mismanaged by recycling companies and city administrators, causing the citizens to suffer every time heavy rain falls occur.
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