Urban flooding, climate change kill 3,100 in Karachi over 15 years

ISLAMABAD: Urban flooding, monsoon rains and heatwaves have claimed 3,130 lives in Karachi over the past 15 years, with the city recording the highest death toll from such climate-related disasters in Pakistan.

Overall, the country has been hit by 35 deadly floods in the past 75 years. Major floods in 2010, 2016, 2022 and 2025 caused large-scale devastation nationwide.

According to Hum Investigation Team research, these disasters have inflicted losses of $70 billion on Pakistan’s economy. Government data shows that floods have killed more than 16,000 people in total.

In Karachi alone, 1,200 people died during the 2015 monsoon and heatwave. Last year, a record temperature of 49.7°C was recorded, killing 568 people.

In 2022, 433 deaths occurred from rains and heatwaves, while 414 people lost their lives in 2020.

Other deadly years include 2018 (205 deaths), 2014 (119), 2012 (65) and 2010 (48). In 2019, 30 people died, in 2021 six, in 2023 four, while 14 people have died so far this year.

NDMA warns of floods, landslides as monsoon system grips Pakistan

Rainfall records show that Karachi received 468mm of rain in 2020, while in 2015, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024 temperatures crossed 40°C, marking some of the hottest years in the city’s history. Karachi has 550 big and small stormwater drains, which were once at least 201 feet wide, but most have now narrowed to 30 feet or even less.

Investigations show that monsoon-related deaths in Karachi were usually not caused directly by rainfall, but by urban flooding where clogged and insufficient drains lead to water accumulation, and by electrocution from poorly maintained or illegally hanging power lines and transmission poles that become lethal in floodwater.

The Karachi transformation plan has also come under scrutiny for awarding costly contracts for the Orangi and Gujjar drains.

According to an audit report, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) awarded contracts worth nearly Rs11 billion to two semi-government companies for cleaning Karachi’s major stormwater drains, Gujjar Nullah and Orangi Nullah, in an effort to protect the city from urban flooding.

Official documents reveal that one semi-government company was overpaid by Rs1.83 billion.

The audit report disclosed that the NDMA paid the company Rs10.1 billion last year, whereas the actual amount due was Rs9.51 billion.

Similarly, another semi-government company was awarded an overpriced contract and it received more than Rs1 billion in excess payments.

The report further stated that the NDMA made an additional payment of Rs5.67 billion to a semi-government company for work on Gujjar Nullah. Neither the NDMA nor the contracted companies responded to questions from the Hum Investigation Team.