The long delayed monsoon finally came to the city with a bang. As usual, the claims of Sindh government of improving the city’s infrastructure were washed away in urban flood.
Hours of torrential rain submerged major roads, cut off essential services, and left citizens helpless. Commuters remained stranded for hours in waist-deep rainwater, while prolonged electricity and gas outages, coupled with the suspension of mobile networks and internet services, plunged the city into chaos. Families unable to contact loved ones spent the day in deep distress.
City’s major commercial markets also reported urban flooding causing colossal losses to traders. Jamia Cloth, Saddar, Nursery, Nazimabad and Nagin Chowrangi were the worst hit till filing of this news.
The downpour began Tuesday morning and turned into a heavy spell around 2pm, lasting for nearly two and a half hours. Within minutes, Karachi’s streets turned into rivers. Central roads and residential lanes were inundated, bringing traffic to a grinding halt. Thousands of vehicles broke down while hundreds of motorcycles were left stranded in knee-to-waist-deep water.
University Road was completely closed to traffic, while severe traffic jams stretched from Liaquatabad No. 10 to Hasan Square, National Stadium, and Karsaz. Several sections of Shahrah-e-Faisal were under two to three feet of water, stalling vehicles. Other areas, including Nagan Chowrangi, Sakhi Hasan, Board Office Chowrangi, Five Star Chowrangi, Korangi No.1, 2 and 2½, Jail Chowrangi, Hasan Square, NIPA, New M.A. Jinnah Road, Aiwan-e-Sadr Road, Defence, Clifton, Korangi Expressway, and Qayyumabad Chowrangi, were completely inundated, making movement nearly impossible.
A journey of minutes turned into a gruelling ordeal lasting between five to eight hours for commuters trapped on flooded roads. Meanwhile, prolonged suspension of power and gas supply further added to citizens’ misery. The most severe blow came when mobile and internet services went down, cutting people off from their families. Those awaiting loved ones at home endured hours of anguish, unable to establish contact.
Despite the catastrophic disruption, the Sindh government and local bodies were nowhere to be seen. No significant relief measures were initiated, leaving citizens to fend for themselves. As night fell, Karachi continued to suffer under crisis conditions, with the government absent from the scene.
The drains of the city were choked with garbage therefore the rainwater instead of flowing into the sea, came out on the roads, markets and residential areas.
