KARACHI – The city of lights once again found itself drowning in darkness as heavy monsoon showers lashed the metropolis on Tuesday, inundating roads, flooding residential areas, and leaving thousands without electricity. The downpour, which began in the early hours, brought much of Karachi to a standstill, exposing once again the fragility of its drainage and power systems.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, several key areas received alarming amounts of rainfall. Karachi Airport recorded 125 mm, Gulistan-e-Jauhar received 122 mm, while Gulshan-e-Hadeed witnessed 75 mm. University Road and Nazimabad saw 59 mm and 29 mm, respectively, while Korangi registered 14.6 mm. These figures underline the sheer volume of rain that overwhelmed the city’s outdated infrastructure.
Residents across low-lying localities, particularly in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, reported water entering their homes. Streets turned into streams, forcing people to shift their furniture and belongings to higher ground. For many families, the monsoon turned into a night of distress as children and elderly were stranded indoors with rising water levels.
The situation was further worsened by widespread electricity breakdowns. K-Electric, the sole power supplier to the city, reported that more than 300 feeders had to be switched off for safety reasons, leaving vast swathes of Karachi in complete darkness. The company said around 1,770 feeders remained functional, but restoration in flooded neighborhoods could not be initiated until water levels receded.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah held an emergency meeting to review the city’s condition, directing all civic bodies, traffic police, and disaster management teams to remain on high alert. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab declared a rain emergency, cancelling all leaves of municipal staff and setting up emergency cells to deal with the crisis. Traffic police, meanwhile, issued warnings urging citizens to avoid waterlogged routes and drive with extreme caution.
The rains also exposed Karachi’s chronic drainage failures. Despite being Pakistan’s economic hub, the city continues to suffer crippling urban flooding almost every monsoon. Experts note that while nearly every household is connected to a sewerage system, the network remains outdated, poorly maintained, and choked with encroachments—turning heavy rains into a predictable disaster every year.
For Karachi’s residents, the latest downpour has once again brought frustration, helplessness, and the grim reminder that despite promises of reforms, the city remains unprepared for nature’s fury.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.