Summary:
- Sukkur faces severe transportation issues due to stagnant rainwater from recent heavy rains.
- Chief meteorologist refutes claims of record-breaking rainfall, citing lower actual figures.
- Karachi anticipates light rain and cloudy skies with another monsoon system expected soon.
Transportation in Sukkur has been severely disrupted due to stagnant rainwater following a heavy downpour on August 17, 2024. Despite reports of record-breaking rainfall, Sardar Sarfaraz, the chief meteorologist at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), has dismissed these claims. He stated that Sukkur received 116 millimeters of rain over 48 hours, while Rohri, near Sukkur, recorded 134 millimeters. In contrast to the claimed 77-year record, official data indicates that Sukkur experienced 290 millimeters of rain in a single day, not surpassing previous records set in 2022 when 374 millimeters fell over 12 days.
The Sindh government spokesperson and Sukkur Mayor, Barrister Arsalan Islam Sheikh, reported that most of the city’s floodwaters were cleared by Sunday night. However, he noted ongoing issues in 5% of the city, particularly in Qureshi Goth, due to encroachments affecting drainage systems. The Sukkur Municipal Corporation has taken action to address water accumulation at the Sukkur Railway Station, which falls under the Railway Department’s jurisdiction.
Regarding Karachi’s weather, Sarfaraz forecasted that the city will remain cloudy with light rain and drizzle expected over the next 24 hours. The low-pressure system that caused the recent rain has moved away, but a new monsoon system might affect lower Sindh, including Karachi, around August 26 or 27. For upper Sindh, rain is expected on August 21. Karachi’s temperatures are projected to range from 28°C to 32°C with an 81% humidity level and a southwestern wind at 17 kilometers per hour.
