KARACHI: Karachi’s monsoon woes continued as the death toll from rain-related incidents rose to 17 on Wednesday, following heavy downpours that began the previous day. The city experienced further rainfall overnight, exacerbating the already severe flooding and causing widespread disruption across Karachi.
Urban flooding has left vehicles stranded and potholes scattered across major roads. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), some areas, including Gulshan-e-Hadeed and University Road, received over 170 millimeters of rain in just 24 hours. Efforts to drain water from key roads, such as Karsaz and Malir Halt, continued through the day, but many areas, including the Old City Area, Aram Bagh, and Sindh High Court, remained inundated.
The rainstorm took a tragic toll, with children and a woman confirmed among the deceased. One such incident involved a 70-year-old disabled man, found dead in his residence after reportedly falling into rainwater that had accumulated inside his home.
The power situation worsened, with over 240 power feeders still down despite the restoration of 2,000 others. The affected neighborhoods included Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Korangi, and DHA, leaving many without electricity for over 24 hours.
Flight operations at Jinnah International Airport were also heavily impacted. Several domestic flights were cancelled due to staff being unable to reach their stations, while international flights faced delays.
The Sindh High Court ordered the closure of all courts in Karachi, including subordinate ones, in response to the worsening conditions. The PMD indicated that strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal were continuing to impact southern Pakistan, with more heavy rain expected in the coming days, raising concerns about further flooding.
In response to the devastation, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab acknowledged the city’s drainage system struggles, noting that Karachi’s drainage capacity could only handle 40mm of rainfall. Despite the ongoing cleanup, he emphasized the need for long-term improvements to the city’s infrastructure, which has been overwhelmed by the rainfall.
The power supply situation remained critical, with over 550 feeders disrupted across the city. K-Electric, which supplies power to Karachi, confirmed that while some areas had been restored, many neighborhoods remained without power, causing distress among residents.
