The closure of key flood-prone roads – Korangi Crossing over Malir River and EBM Causeway – has thrown Karachi’s traffic system into complete disarray, leaving commuters stuck in severe gridlock for hours across major arteries of the city.
From early morning until late evening, Korangi Road, Qayyumabad Chowrangi, Jam Sadiq Bridge, Baloch Colony Expressway, Brooks Chowrangi, and Defence Signal were engulfed in a massive traffic jam, with long queues of vehicles stretching for kilometres. For thousands of citizens, reaching their destinations became nearly impossible, while even crossing roads on foot turned into a daunting task.
Due to the closure of both causeways, those heading to work or other essential tasks in the morning faced nerve-wracking delays, trapped in unmoving traffic for hours. Stranded motorists were seen sitting helplessly, visibly frustrated and fatigued.
The entire stretch from Baloch Colony Expressway to Qayyumabad, including KPT Interchange flyover and connecting roads, remained jam-packed with cars and motorbikes. Public transport also came to a halt, with large crowds, including women, waiting anxiously at Qayyumabad Chowrangi, hoping for some relief.
In desperation, motorcyclists were seen lifting and dragging their bikes from one road to another to escape the chaos.
Frustrated commuters criticised traffic authorities, stating that the traffic police failed to maintain flow on alternative routes after the closure of the Korangi and EBM floodways, further aggravating an already fragile traffic infrastructure.
As a result, citizens not only lost valuable time, but also wasted additional fuel, highlighting a lack of coordination and disaster preparedness by the city’s traffic management system.
This incident once again underscores Karachi’s inability to handle urban flooding and its aftermath, with infrastructure bottlenecks, poor planning, and ineffective traffic control leaving the city paralysed during critical moments.
