KARACHI: Civic bodies sped up their ongoing drain cleaning efforts in the city following Metreological Departments forecast predicting heavy rain in the city for the next 48 hours. Metrological Department, on Thursday, forecasted heavy rains with gusty thunder storms for the next 48 hours. According to the Met Department, the two day rain spell will be triggered by monsoon winds flowing from Rajhastan, India. Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) declared rain emergency in the metropolis shortly after the forecast. According to KWSB officials, the civic body, after declaring rain emergency, began to work on 24-hour basis to clear accumulated silt and solid material in city’s main nullahs and storm water system. KWSB officials said that necessary field staff was discharging their respective duties on designated sites. According to the officials, heavy machinery including cranes and power generators was being employed to facilitate drain cleaning. Similarly, KMC officials said that Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), under supervision of Mayor Waseem Akhtar, would also take up cleaning job of nearly forty one nullahs in city. Earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) had also ordered civic bodies of city to clear storm water drains and nullahs as number of the drain system had been clogged with sand and garbage, thus posing threat to nearby settlements on banks of nullahs. The 28-kilometre long Gujjar Nullah, along with storm water drains in Teen Talwar Clifton and Khamosh Colony, Nazimabad areas have yet to be cleared. According to the weather forecast issued by the Met office, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and other parts of Sindh would also receive heavy downpour on Friday. Dam levels are also expected to improve following the two day rain spell. According to Hub Dam Project Director Sohail Khan, pre monsoon rains in scattered places in Balochistan had already increased water levels of the dam by a foot. “Usually rainwater from faraway mountainous areas of province takes 48 hours after rains to reach into Dam,” he added. “With more rains expected on Friday, Dam levels might improve further,” he informed. Published in Daily Times, June 29th 2018.