HYDERABAD – Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday visited several rain-affected areas in Hyderabad following torrential monsoon downpours that caused widespread flooding and severe disruptions in the city.
The Chief Minister toured multiple flood-impacted localities, including Civil Lines, Thandi Sarak, the Railway Underpass, Fatah Chowk, Makki Shah Road, Qazi Qayyum Road, and low-lying neighborhoods in Qasimabad. He directed district and municipal officials to expedite drainage operations and ensure swift relief to residents.
According to local administration, a sudden cloudburst on July 14 caused over 100 mm of rainfall in an hour, severely overwhelming the city’s drainage system. Latifabad received around 91 mm, while Qasimabad recorded 55 mm. As a result, multiple areas remained inundated for hours, and 18 grid stations were shut down due to fallen power poles, leaving large sections of the city without electricity.
CM Murad expressed concern over the delay in water drainage and criticized the inefficiencies in infrastructure. He ordered authorities to enhance drainage operations using all available machinery and manpower. Officials informed him that approximately 90 percent of water had been cleared within 24 hours, but pockets of stagnant water still remained in some areas.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated Phase I and II of the Autobahn Road project and announced that the remaining development work would be completed by the end of the month. He further laid the foundation stone for a new road along Pinyari Canal to improve urban resilience and mobility.
In a related development, CM Murad inaugurated a Computer-Based Testing lab at the Sindh Public Service Commission office in Hyderabad. Equipped with 500 digital tablets, the lab has the capacity to test up to 2,000 candidates daily — marking a significant advancement in the province’s recruitment and examination process.
Addressing the media during his visit, Shah acknowledged shortcomings in urban planning and vowed to take strict action against illegal high-rises and encroachments that have contributed to poor drainage and unplanned growth. He emphasized the need for sustainable solutions to Hyderabad’s drainage and power infrastructure, especially in the face of increasingly erratic monsoon patterns.
