KARACHI, 1 August 2006 — The first monsoon rains in Karachi and interior Sindh caused widespread damage to rail tracks and bridges, which remained submerged in rainwater, causing the rail traffic to grind to a halt.

The repair work of the rain-damaged railway bridge near Dhabeji is in progress and is expected to be completed in a day, allowing for the main rail arteries to be opened.

The rail link connecting Karachi with the rest of the country was cut off after torrential rains in interior Sindh damaged a railway bridge near the Runn Pathani railway station, located between Kotri and Jhampeer. Due to the damage, the arrival and departure of all trains is now being carried out from the Hyderabad railway station.

The railway authorities are arranging buses to bring train passengers to Karachi form Hyderabad and vice versa.

Meanwhile, hundreds of passengers had no other option but to postpone their journey to upcountry after the Pakistan Railways canceled 12 trains. Passengers staged a protest and ransacked ticket counters at railway stations after the authorities informed them that they were unable to give refunds on the same day.

To alleviate the inconveniences faced by the stranded passengers, the Muttaheda Qaumi Movement (MQM) has set up a camp, where the passengers are being served food and beverages.

The downpour also created traffic jams at various parts of Karachi as several roads in the metropolis came under water after heavy rains yesterday.

The areas experiencing the worst traffic jam included New Town, Johar More, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Rashid Minhas Road, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Liaquatabad, Karimabad and other city areas. The KPT underpass has also been closed due to rainwater.

Following heavy downpours all through Sunday night, water levels in Malir and Lyari Rivers overflowed, flooding the low-lying areas in this mega-metropolis. Water also gushed into the houses in some areas.

Strong winds pulled down trees, blocking roads at several places, while many vehicles got stuck in rain water or fell into the dug out ditches at places where development works are under way.

Hundreds of people in panic shifted to safer places from the low-lying areas, while the situation at Banaras bridge took an alarming turn, when the rainstorm drain passing beneath overflowed and breached the protective barriers inundating houses and the surrounding localities.

Many domestic and foreign passengers heading toward the airport had to miss their flights due to the flooding.

The Met Office forecast more rains with thundershower in Karachi during next 24 hours. The Met Office director Abdul Hameed said maximum rains of 80 millimeters was recorded at north Karachi area during the last 24 hours. The met office recorded 72 mm rain at Shara-e-Faisal, 66 mm at airport and 46 mm at Mauripur area in Karachi.

The rains started again yesterday at 11:00 a.m. in Karachi after last night’s downpour that ended a long dry spell in the city.

The Met Office said a weather system was developing over north Rajasthan in India and the rains in the province were expected under influence of this fresh weather system.

The weather officials have also advised fishermen of small boats to take special care at sea.