KARACHI: Torrential downpours lashed Karachi on Tuesday, leaving much of the city submerged, disrupting daily life, and causing widespread chaos.
The heavy rainfall triggered urban flooding, long power outages, and fatal accidents, with at least eight people confirmed dead. Authorities have now announced the closure of all schools in the metropolis on Wednesday as a safety measure.
The downpour, which began in the morning and continued intermittently throughout the day, inundated several low-lying neighbourhoods. Among the worst affected were Malir, Liaquatabad, Korangi Crossing, Baldia Town, Rafah-e-Aam, and Shah Faisal Colony. In many areas, residents reported rainwater entering their homes. Streets in Surjani Town, North Nazimabad’s Shadman Town, and District Malir were turned into rivers, leaving commuters stranded and traffic at a standstill.
Fatal incidents reported
The rains also caused tragic accidents. A wall collapsed in Gulistan-e-Jauhar’s Block 12, killing four people and injuring two others. Another wall collapse in Orangi claimed the life of a child. Rescue officials confirmed that in total, eight people lost their lives in rain-related incidents across the city.
Flight operations hit
The torrential rains also disrupted flight operations at Jinnah International Airport. At least eight flights were cancelled and 20 others delayed, with several inbound flights diverted to alternative cities. A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Skardu (PK-456) was redirected, while a Dubai-Karachi flight by Flydubai (FZ-335) was diverted to Multan.
PIA also cancelled Karachi-Quetta flights (PK-310 and PK-311), Karachi-Islamabad flights (PK-308 and PK-309), and Sukkur-bound flights (PK-536 and PK-537). Private airlines suspended scheduled Dubai services, while flights arriving from Jeddah, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Colombo, Medina, Peshawar, and Toronto were delayed by up to five hours.
Emergency measures
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah declared a rain emergency in Karachi and ordered immediate drainage operations in low-lying areas. He also directed the administration, local government bodies, and traffic police to stay on high alert. Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, stressing that ensuring public safety was the top priority.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are likely to continue affecting Sindh, including Karachi, until August 22. Widespread rain and thunderstorms are forecast in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar, and other districts. The PMD has warned of more urban flooding in low-lying areas.
Power outages
The downpour also caused massive power disruptions. Several neighbourhoods faced prolonged outages after electricity was cut for safety reasons. K-Electric, the city’s main power supplier, said that over 1,770 of its 2,100 feeders remained operational, but supply was temporarily suspended in encroached settlements, ditches, and low-lying zones. The utility added that its teams were working in the field to restore services.
Nationwide monsoon toll
Karachi’s crisis comes amid devastating monsoon rains across Pakistan. The death toll from rain-related incidents nationwide has climbed to 660. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported the highest number of fatalities with 392 deaths, followed by Punjab with 164, Gilgit-Baltistan with 32, Sindh with 29, Balochistan with 20, Azad Jammu and Kashmir with 15, and Islamabad with eight.
Among the victims, 394 were men, 95 women, and 171 children. Nearly 1,000 people have been injured, most of them in Punjab and KP.
Schools closed in Karachi
As a precaution, Karachi’s schools will remain closed on Wednesday. Authorities said the decision was taken to ensure student safety given the dangerous road conditions, continued rain forecast, and the risk of further flooding.
With more heavy rainfall expected in the coming days, officials have urged citizens to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel until the situation improves.
