KARACHI: At least five people were killed on Thursday as heavy rain lashed the metropolis, while the city administration declared an emergency.

According to police and rescue officials, the deaths occurred in separate incidents; four people died due to electrocution while a fifth was killed due to a crumbling building amid the heavy rainfall.

Site Superhighway Industrial Area Police Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammed Nawaz told Dawn that Shahabuddin, 40, was trying to fix an electrical issue in Ahsanabad when he suffered an electric shock and died. He said the deceased was believed to be an employee of K-Electric.

PIB Colony police SHO Rana Mohammed Ajmal said that a 35-yer-old man, Abdul Waleed, died when he touched an electric pole near Faizan Milad Masjid.

Surjani Police SHO Sohail Khaskheli told Dawn that 7-year old Dua Batool Sarfraz was killed when she suffered an electric shock inside her home in Sector-7-A. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Edhi Foundation said in a statement that a 23-year-old man, Sartaj, was electrocuted inside his home in Hasan Brohi Goth near Bashir Chowk.

Separately, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan told Dawn that heavy rains adversely affected the structure of a three-storey building near Bismillah Hotel in Pak Colony. The wall of the second floor collapsed, trapping a passerby under the debris. The rescue team retrieved the man from the rubble and took him to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Karachiites in various areas witnessed light showers in the morning, with most localities reporting torrential rainfall shortly after 2pm.

A K-Electric spokesperson said in a statement after 2pm: “As a safety measure, power supply may be temporarily suspended in some areas; it is restored after rain subsides and clearance from field teams [has been received].”

In a later update at 6:40pm, the KE spokesperson said, “After heavy rain and hailstorm, KE’s power distribution system remains stable; uninterrupted electricity supply continues from around 2,000 out of over 2,100 feeders.”

He said that at the rainfall’s peak, around 500 feeders were affected, adding that the number was swiftly reversed as soon as rain stopped.

Mayor’s appeal to people

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, in a video message on his X account, said he had been visiting various of the city with his city throughout the day and the rainwater situation had now “improved”.

“It’s around 8:15pm … and traffic flow is normal at all major arteries. All 14 underpasses are also open for traffic,” he said, adding that his team had received complaints of traffic flow disruptions from some areas earlier in the day, which had been addressed.

He said the Met Office had forecast another “major” rain spell between 9pm and 12am, appealing to people not to step out unnecessarily and exercise caution during this time.

“We are in the field and the city administration is [prepared] to tackle any situation,” he assured.

Earlier in the day, Karachi Traffic Police reported multiple waterlogged roads and significant traffic disruptions across the city following heavy rainfall.

Weather forecast

On Friday, Karachi Division is expected to see partly cloudy weather with “chances of light rain/drizzle”, with mostly sunny skies forecasted on Saturday, when mercury can hit 30-32°C during the day.

According to a statement issued by his office, Wahab directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) staff to remain alert.

“Besides the deployed staff, rapid response teams have also been formed. If further needed, staff will be dispatched to the relevant locations,” the mayor was quoted as saying.

A statement issued by the KMC spokesperson said the authority’s staff would remain stationed at eight nullahs and 12 choking points to monitor the situation.

Rain emergency declared in Karachi

A rain emergency was declared in Karachi in view of the rain situation.

Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi said the city administration had activated measures to deal with the rainfall, adding that citizens could contact the rescue helpline at 1299 for any complaints or assistance.

The staff of relevant institutions had been deployed under the supervision of assistant commissioners, he added.

To deal with the rainfall, all deputy commissioners were directed to remain alert, and concerned officers to stay in the field.

In addition, rain emergency help desks and camps were established in various districts and subdivisions at the instructions of the commissioner.

Further, the Sindh government appealed to citizens to exercise caution during rainy weather. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that, in view of the rains, advance arrangements had been made and the leaves of essential staff had been cancelled.

Additional de-watering pumps had been installed for the timely drainage of rainwater from low-lying areas, he said, while drainage chokepoints at various locations in the city had already been identified. Staff had been deployed to monitor these chokepoints, he added.

“The officers of the relevant provincial government institutions and local government institutions have been instructed to remain in the field on high alert,” he added.

Memon asked citizens to follow precautionary measures and contact the relevant institutions immediately in case of an emergency.

Separately, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) established rain emergency centres in all its regional offices including in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, adding they would remain in place till April 8.

According to a handout issued by the Sindh information ministry, Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said SBCA officers would remain in the field and ensure the monitoring of dilapidated buildings.

In the statement, SCBA Director General Muzamil Hussain Halepoto urged residents to vacate weak and old buildings, and to avoid going near under-construction structures.

Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho also directed police control rooms to remain on high alert, adding that full contact should be maintained with rescue agencies to deal with emergency situations.