Entertainment
Power outages, waterlogging persist as Karachi reels after torrential rains
A day after heavy showers triggered urban flooding in Karachi and left at least 10 people dead, large parts of the metropolis remain without electricity, while waterlogging continues to disrupt life on major roads amid forecast of more torrential rains.
Power supply has yet to be restored in several neighbourhoods, including Gulistan-e-Jauhar Blocks 7, 13, and 18, Mehmoodabad, Akhtar Colony, Manzoor Colony, Defence View, and Malir Alamgir Society—despite more than 16 hours having passed since the downpour subsided.
K-Electric, the city’s sole power utility, said in a statement that its field teams remained actively engaged throughout the spell and that feeders were switched off only where safety precautions demanded.
“Restoration efforts continued undeterred despite significant waterlogging and congestion. Areas with high levels of stagnant water, particularly low-lying zones, were particularly affected due to restricted access and safety risks for residents and field teams,” the utility said.
Meanwhile, rainwater has yet to be fully drained from several major roads, including Tower, II Chundrigar Road, the FTC area, the PAF Museum on Sharea Faisal, and Safoora on University Road.
Water has also accumulated in Karachi’s Red Zone, Shaheen Complex, MR Kayani Road near the Arts Council, and Ziauddin Ahmed Road. As a result, one track of Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road has remained closed to traffic since yesterday, while the Drigh Road and Nazimabad underpasses also remain shut.
Moreover, the Aiwan-e-Sadr Road near the Governor House is submerged with rainwater up to the police lines. Other affected areas include Kharadar, MA Jinnah Road, Bolton Market, and Jamia Sindh Madrasatul Islam.
‘Main roads largely cleared’
Speaking to Geo News, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said that while main roads had largely been cleared after the rains, drainage work was still underway in several waterlogged areas.
“Drainage efforts are continuing where rainwater has accumulated,” he said, noting that the city received over 235mm of rainfall—far exceeding its drainage capacity of just 40mm.
Wahab said that 3.024 million cubic feet of debris had so far been removed from storm drains, improving water flow and easing drainage across the city.
He acknowledged shortcomings in the drainage system but stressed the need for long-term solutions. “Basic steps are needed to expand drainage capacity, but this requires land and faces resistance from residents, making the task difficult,” the mayor said.
“Traffic is moving, but slows down where water remains on the sides of roads. Overall, the situation has improved compared to earlier in the day,” he added.
The mayor also confirmed receiving complaints about power outages in multiple neighbourhoods.
Over 550 feeders disrupted
Electricity supply has been disrupted to more than 550 feeders across the city, with some areas experiencing blackouts for up to 16 hours.
A K-Electric spokesperson said that power is currently being supplied through more than 1,550 of the city’s 2,100 feeders. The spokesperson explained that heavy rain had left many roads submerged, disrupting fuel deliveries and hampering access for repair teams.
However, residents told Geo News that several hours had passed since the rain stopped, yet no K-Electric teams had arrived to restore supply in their areas, leaving citizens distressed and helpless.
More torrential rains
According to the Met Office, strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are continuously penetrating the country, especially the southern parts. Under the influence of these meteorological conditions, widespread rain-wind/thundershower (with scattered heavyfalls at times very heavy) is expected in several Sindh districts, including Karachi, from August 19-22, with occasional gaps.
It is also expected in Mithi, Tharparker, Umer Kot, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Sajawal, Tando Allayar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Sanghar, Jamshoro, while at scattered places in Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, and Jacobabad.
The PMD added that torrential rains may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Sindh, including Karachi.
Cruz Beckham and Jackie Apostel exuded perfect couple goals as they stepped out in France for Paris Fashion Week on Thursday.
The couple sweetly held hands as they arrived at their lavish hotel, chauffeur privately.
As for Jackie’s style, she cut a stylish figure in a pink faux-fur coat paired with blue denim jeans and chic burgundy high heels.
Meanwhile, the young son of Sir David and Victoria Beckham embraced the spring weather shorts and a leather jacket.
They arrived in Paris just a day after Cruz and his band, The Breakers, performed on stage at The Deaf Institute in Manchester.
For the unversed, David Beckham made sure to support his son by attending the performance, watching his 21-year-old son and his band take the stage alongside former player Nicky Butt.
Just hours earlier, David, Victoria, Cruz, and Romeo sent birthday wishes to Brooklyn via Instagram posts to mark his 27th birthday.
The public olive branch came six weeks after Brooklyn made a bombshell statement declaring that he had no wishes to reconcile with his father.
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes stunned fans with their first official public appearance together in over a decade.
Gosling turned The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon into a birthday bash for Mendes’ 52nd.
The 45-year-old appeared on the late-night show to promote his upcoming film Project Hail Mary, but the spotlight quickly shifted when he surprised Mendes with an extravagant celebration.
He invited the audience to sing “Happy Birthday” as Mendes.
Gosling wearing striped Louis Vuitton cardigan, walked onstage to cheers.
The festivities escalated when Fallon revealed that North Bergen High School’s marching band was in the audience.
The band paraded onto the stage, playing “Happy Birthday” while waving a flag emblazoned with Mendes’ name.
Confetti rained down as Gosling clapped, sang along, and received a kiss on the cheek from Mendes.
The moment marked a rare public outing for the couple, who last walked a red carpet together in 2013 for The Place Beyond the Pines.
Since meeting on set in 2011, Gosling and Mendes have kept their relationship largely private, raising daughters Esmeralda and Amada away from the spotlight.
Mendes, who has often spoken about her preference for privacy, seemed touched by the surprise.
The celebration not only honored Mendes’ milestone birthday but also delighted fans with a rare glimpse of Hollywood’s most private couple.
Britney Spears has spoken to both her mother and her two sons following her DUI arrest earlier this week, with those closest to her now rallying around the singer in the aftermath of what sources describe as an deeply emotional night.
According to TMZ, Lynne Spears called her daughter as soon as she heard about the arrest, with the conversation between the two described as “positive” and “hopeful.”
Britney also spoke to her sons Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden James, 19, after being released from jail on Thursday morning, though she has not yet seen any family members in person.
The outreach comes at a particularly raw moment.
Spears was pulled over near the Borchard Road off-ramp in Newbury Park, Ventura County, at around 9:28 p.m. on Wednesday after officers reportedly observed her driving her black BMW “erratically at a high rate of speed.”
She was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol, and an insider told Page Six that officers also found an unknown substance inside her car at the time.
Her chemical test results remain pending and the investigation is ongoing. She was released at 6:07 a.m. Thursday.
Sources paint a picture of a woman who was visibly distressed throughout the process.
Spears was “crying and very tearful” while being booked, according to Page Six.
“She was incredibly emotional,” a source told the outlet. “It’s been a very hard couple of months.” The same insider said Spears “felt ashamed and embarrassed” and is “very sorry” for what happened.
“She doesn’t want to let anyone down, including her fans. The last thing she wants is to be judged publicly all over again.”
Her manager, Cade Hudson, was blunt in his public statement, calling the incident “completely inexcusable” while expressing hope that it might mark a turning point.
Maharashtra’s Rs 7.69-Lakh-Crore Budget: Who Gains? Who Pays More?
Stock market today: Which are the top losers and gainers on March 6- check list – The Times of India
Bangladesh road map aims at raising tax-to-GDP ratio to 15% by 2035
Attock Cement’s acquisition approved | The Express Tribune
Policy easing drives Argentina’s garment import surge in 2025
India Us Trade Deal: Fresh look at India-US trade deal? May be ‘rebalanced’ if circumstances change, says Piyush Goyal – The Times of India
-
Business1 week ago
Attock Cement’s acquisition approved | The Express Tribune
-
Fashion1 week agoPolicy easing drives Argentina’s garment import surge in 2025
-
Business1 week ago
India Us Trade Deal: Fresh look at India-US trade deal? May be ‘rebalanced’ if circumstances change, says Piyush Goyal – The Times of India
-
Politics1 week agoWhat are Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities?
-
Politics1 week agoUS arrests ex-Air Force pilot for ‘training’ Chinese military
-
Sports7 days agoLPGA legend shares her feelings about US women’s Olympic wins: ‘Gets me really emotional’
-
Business7 days agoGreggs to reveal trading amid pressure from cost of living and weight loss drugs
-
Sports1 week agoSri Lanka’s Shanaka says constant criticism has affected players’ mental health