Islamabad, May 1: Karachi is facing a severe water shortage for the second consecutive week, leaving millions in distress. The situation has worsened due to a continuous decline in water supply.
The crisis began on April 21 when the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSB) shut down a major water line to connect a new 72-inch diameter pipeline near the Dhabeji pumping station.
According to reports from the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, this scheduled work resulted in a shortage of 250 million gallons per day (MGD), which accounts for nearly 40 percent of Karachi’s total daily water supply of 650 MGD, while the city’s demand exceeds 1,200 MGD.
The water department managed to restore 100 MGD of supply by the following evening, but many pumps at the Dhabeji pumping station were shut down due to a significant power crisis, leading to a temporary relief.
On Monday, power interruptions caused three 72-inch diameter pipelines to burst at the Dhabeji pumping station, resulting in an additional shortage of 140 MGD.
This has severely affected water supply in several areas, including Korangi, Malir, Jinnah Town, Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony, Saddar Town, and Clifton.
KWSB reported that emergency repair teams fixed the three burst lines by Friday. However, during power testing, two new leaks were discovered in line number 5 in the Gulshan-e-Hadeed area, and repairs are ongoing.
According to a department spokesperson, the total water shortage on Thursday was 80 MGD. He stated that the closure of line number 5 continues to impact Korangi, Malir, Jinnah Town, Saddar, DHA, and Clifton the most.
Local residents express that conditions remain dire. Resident Abdul Ghafoor mentioned that there has been no water in the taps for the past week, forcing him to purchase water tankers. A woman reported that her area has been without water for the last five days.
Another resident shared that people check their taps every morning, only to prepare for another day without water.
My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.