Karachi is once again at risk of a severe water shortage after a leak developed in the 84-inch pipeline that was recently repaired. The pipeline had been damaged during construction work on the Red Line project, and it took eight days to fix, during which the city experienced significant water shortages.
According to Express News, officials from the Karachi Water Corporation are currently debating whether to halt the water supply once more to carry out further repairs or continue distributing water while addressing the issue. A final decision will be made after a meeting scheduled for Thursday.
The pipeline had ruptured at two points on December 3, disrupting water supply across the city. During the eight-day repair period, Karachi was left without water, resulting in a critical shortage. It is estimated that about 2.5 billion gallons of water could not be delivered to the city during this time, leaving residents struggling to meet their daily water needs.
Though the repair work was completed and water supply resumed, a new leak has been discovered, with water accumulating in a trench. The situation remains dire, and there is concern that the leak could worsen, further complicating efforts to restore stable water supply.
To cope with the shortage, residents were forced to buy water worth over Rs 3 billion during the eight-day crisis. With the new leak emerging, there is renewed fear of a prolonged water scarcity, and officials are urgently working to resolve the issue.
