Two people were reportedly killed in rain-related incidents in Karachi on Friday, police and rescue officials told Dawn.
Year’s first rain hit the metropolis, with varying strengths of sporadic showers across the city.
A 35-year-old man was electrocuted while five others were injured when an electric wire fell near the Karachi Korangi Crossing area, according to police in Ibrahim Hyderi.
A police official said that Abid Sarwar and his wife had gone shopping to the Korangi Juma bazaar when an electric wire fell on him. Sarwar died on the spot while five others fell unconscious, the officer added.
The body was shifted to Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre.
In a separate incident, 25-year-old Mohammed Asad was killed after receiving severe head injuries when he fell off his motorcycle at Kashmir Road in the metropolis, Edhi Foundation’s spokesperson confirmed.
Asad was a resident of Surjani Town.
Additional Inspector General Mushtaq Mehr has directed all senior police officials to facilitate traffic police and help it maintain a smooth traffic flow.
He also ordered them to be extra vigilant with regard to street crimes, saying it is a “critical” time for such activities.
Traffic situation
Meanwhile, DIG Traffic Asif Aijaz Shaikh said that a car caught fire near a bus stop in Shah Faisal town, impeding traffic moving towards the airport. He also cautioned the citizens to drive carefully during rain.
Furthermore, due to the Karachi Eat Festival at Frere Hall, the traffic is moving slowly.
Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhter was seen on Karachi roads, trying to assist police is managing the traffic situation.
Mayor Karachi @wasimakhtar1955 along with @ChairmanDMCEast at Tipu Sultan Road. #Karachi #Rain#MQMPakistan on Ground for their people.
Post-rain power outages
Areas where people experienced power outage included Clifton, Shah Faisal Town, Malir, Landhi, Tipu Sultan Society as well as the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area, APP reported.
A K-Electric spokesperson said that some areas of Karachi experienced a “partial” power outage where the “affected” feeders were “re-energised” immediately.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast cloudy weather with light rain and gusty winds for the metropolis during the next 24 hours.
According to the Met office, the minimum temperature is expected to range between 12 to 14 degrees Celsius with humidity drawing to at least 70 per cent.
