KARACHI: In a Saturday weather announcement, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) revealed the likelihood of thundershowers sweeping across Karachi within the next 24 hours.
The city experienced a light drizzle during the early hours of the day, foreshadowing the incoming weather phenomenon.
The PMD’s daily forecast report further elucidated that these thundershowers would persist today and tomorrow, extending into June 9. It also emphasized that the air currently carries a humidity level of 79%, according to local media.
In response to the anticipated rainfall, the Mayor of Karachi, Murtaza Wahab, declared a rain emergency within the confines of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation. This measure ensures the continuous operation of all pertinent KMC departments, even during holidays, as they vigilantly address any challenges arising from the meteorological conditions.
As Pakistan grapples with the deluge of the monsoon season, reports from officials on Friday revealed that at least 50 individuals, including eight innocent children, tragically lost their lives due to various incidents associated with the heavy downpours. From June to September, monsoon winds traverse South Asia each year, supplying 70% to 80% of the region’s annual precipitation.
While these monsoon rains bear significance for the livelihoods of countless farmers and the food security of a population nearing two billion people, they simultaneously carry the potential for catastrophic landslides and dangerous floods. “Since the advent of the monsoon on June 25, Pakistan has witnessed fifty fatalities stemming from disparate rain-related events,” a National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) official said in an interview with AFP. Additionally, the official expressed that 87 individuals sustained injuries during this period.
As Karachi braces for thundershowers, the city’s residents must remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to safeguard their well-being. The meteorological predictions serve as a reminder of the complex interplay between nature’s bounty and its unforgiving forces, a delicate balance that often necessitates proactive measures to mitigate the potential risks associated with these powerful monsoon rains.
