Karachi paralysed after record rain, 10 dead in incidents

KARACHI: The metropolis remained waterlogged on Wednesday, a day after torrential rains submerged major roads, triggered urban flooding, and claimed at least 10 lives in rain-related incidents.

Large parts of the city continued to face drainage issues. Water remained accumulated on I.I. Chundrigar Road, Tower, Baloch Colony, Arts Council Road, Saddar, Lucky Star, Haqqani Chowk, and the Old City area. Roads around Aiwan-e-Sadr, M.R. Kiyani Road, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Malir, Quaidabad, and Natha Khan also remained inundated, disrupting normal traffic flow.

On Tuesday, Karachi came under the grip of a powerful monsoon system. Heavy downpours inundated key arteries and inner streets, leaving vehicles stranded in waist-deep water. Traffic gridlocks paralysed the city for hours, while commuters struggled to reach homes and workplaces.

Neighbourhoods including Gulshan-e-Maymar, Water Pump, Ayesha Manzil, North Karachi, Surjani Town, Guru Mandir, Lasbela, Saddar, and Liaquatabad were badly hit. North Nazimabad, Hyderi, and adjoining localities also received intense showers. In Gulshan-e-Hadeed, a one-hour spell of heavy rain flooded streets and seeped into homes, forcing residents to shift valuables to safer places.

Other busy roads such as Hasan Square, NIPA, Liaquatabad No. 10, Jail Chowrangi, Karsaz, Korangi, and the Expressway were submerged. The rains also exposed the fragility of Karachi’s infrastructure. Ceilings at the Sindh High Court leaked, while a parking shed at the Sindh Secretariat collapsed, prompting emergency rescues.

Heavy rains disrupt PIA flight operations in Karachi

The rains also brought tragedy. A motorcyclist was electrocuted near Gizri Bridge after touching a live electricity wire lying roadside. Rescue workers recovered the body of a man who drowned in a drain near Gurumandir after a four-hour search. Authorities confirmed that at least 10 people lost their lives in different rain-related accidents.

Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab visited the stormwater drain from Shaheen Complex to Hijrat Colony. He said Urdu Bazaar, Sindh High Court, Secretariat, and Arts Council areas relied on this drain for water disposal. “We are making all-out efforts to resolve the situation,” he said, adding that water surrounding the KMC building could only be cleared through this channel.

Sindh Minister for Rehabilitation Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman also paid an emergency visit to Rescue 1122 headquarters. Officials briefed him on rescue operations. He directed that rescue teams remain fully alert and provide immediate relief to citizens.

Rescue 1122 later reported that a call centre office in PECHS Society was flooded, but 30 trapped people were evacuated safely. The Drigh Road underpass leading to the Airport was also submerged, severely affecting traffic movement.

Mayor Wahab also inspected Zaibunnisa Street in Saddar and confirmed that the road had been cleared of rainwater. He added that drainage in front of the Sindh Assembly was possible through the adjoining stormwater drain.

The city administration and rescue services remained on high alert as more rain was expected in the coming days.

PMD FORECAST MOST RAINS

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), more rainfall is forecast in Karachi and several other districts of Sindh, including Hyderabad, Sukkur, Ghotki, Dadu, Larkana, Jacobabad, and Mirpurkhas.

Gulshan-e-Hadeed recorded 145mm of rainfall, Airport Old Area 138mm, University Road 137mm, Jinnah Terminal 132mm, and Saadi Town 123mm. Shahrah-e-Faisal received 114mm and the Airport 111mm.