Urban Flooding

Urban Flooding Hits Southern Sindh: Cities Struggle Amidst Heavy Monsoon Rains

KARACHI: Southern Sindh is grappling with severe urban flooding as relentless monsoon rains battered the region on Wednesday. The unprecedented downpour has led to widespread disruptions, including school closures and extensive power outages across affected cities.

Heavy Rainfall and Urban Flooding

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of continued heavy rainfall over the next three days, predicting up to 300 millimetres of rain in Sujawal and Thatta districts. The ongoing rains have already caused significant urban flooding in several areas, disrupting daily life and prompting urgent responses from local authorities.

In cities such as Sujawal, Badin, Kunri, Umerkot, Mithi, Hyderabad, Tando Jam, Hala, New Saeedabad, Sanghar, and Mirpurkhas, streets and homes have been submerged under rainwater. Mirpurkhas, in particular, has experienced severe flooding, with water covering all main roads and government offices. The city’s only underpass, a crucial link for traffic, is also submerged, causing major disruptions.

Relocation and Emergency Responses

Religious leaders in Mirpurkhas have called for special prayers as the situation worsens. The local population, especially those living near the Indus River, has begun relocating to safer areas, expressing frustration over the lack of immediate rescue operations from local authorities.

Infrastructure Damage and Power Outages

The rain has also caused significant damage to infrastructure, including power outages and water supply disruptions. In Hyderabad, over 80 of 629 feeders have been affected, impacting communication and business activities. The situation is exacerbated by ongoing power outages and water supply issues across affected regions.

Crisis in Neighboring Districts

Reports from Badin mirror the crisis seen in Mirpurkhas. Local resident Muhammad Suleman described the entire city as being underwater, with rainwater flooding homes and cutting off phone and road connections with coastal villages. Displacement has been reported in several coastal and riverine areas, including Chohar Jamali, Shah Bandar, and parts of Sujawal.

Nationwide Impact and Fatalities

The PMD’s rainfall measurements show significant downpours across the country, with Multan receiving over 230 millimetres of rain in the past two days, breaking previous records. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has reported a total of 245 fatalities from rain-related incidents since July 1, with the majority of deaths occurring in Punjab (92), followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (74), Sindh (47), and Balochistan (22).

Future Outlook and Damage Assessment

The PMD forecasts that the current spell of rain will continue intermittently until August 31. In addition to the human toll, the rains have caused damage to infrastructure, including 1,002 destroyed houses, 3,475 damaged houses, and significant damage to schools and bridges.

As the region continues to battle the effects of severe urban flooding, residents and authorities alike are bracing for the ongoing challenges posed by the relentless monsoon rains.