KARACHI: At least five people lost their lives, including four due to electrocution, as heavy rainfall swept across Karachi on Thursday, inundating roads, disrupting traffic, and causing widespread power outages across the metropolis.
According to the Met Office, significant rainfall was recorded in multiple areas, with Nazimabad receiving 69.6mm, followed by Keamari (56mm), Saadi Town (48mm), University Road (44.2mm), and Bahria Town (43.5mm). Other localities, including Orangi Town, Gulshan-i-Maymar, Surjani Town, and Jinnah Terminal, also experienced moderate to heavy downpours.
The weather is expected to remain partly cloudy on Friday morning, with chances of light drizzle, before improving later in the day.
Urban Flooding Disrupts Traffic
Heavy rains led to urban flooding across key arteries, severely affecting mobility:
- Sharea Faisal near Nursery was submerged, with rainwater entering nearby furniture markets
- A major stretch linking Shahrah-i-Pakistan and Karimabad faced severe waterlogging
- A road connecting Malir Cantonment to Malir Halt caved in, stranding vehicles
- M.A. Jinnah Road, particularly around Iqbal Market, witnessed significant flooding
Small hail was also reported in Clifton, DHA, Mauripur, and Gulistan-i-Jauhar, adding to the intensity of the weather system.
Widespread Power Outages
The rain also severely impacted the electricity network of K-Electric, with nearly 500 feeders affected at the peak of the storm. Although restoration efforts reduced the number of impacted feeders to around 120 by evening, many areas remained without power for several hours.
Authorities Respond, Situation Improves
Despite the intensity of the downpour, city authorities appeared relatively better prepared compared to previous spells. Municipal teams, under the leadership of Mayor Murtaza Wahab, were deployed swiftly to drain accumulated water and manage emergencies.
While major roads were cleared within a few hours and traffic flow restored, low-lying residential areas remained inundated by late evening, disrupting daily life and raising sanitation concerns.
Officials maintained that the overall situation was under control, with all major underpasses operational, though challenges persisted in several neighbourhoods.
Story by Imtiaz AliImran Ayub
