Karachi was lashed by heavy downpours as the second wave of monsoon rains hit the city, with Surjani Town receiving the highest rainfall at 129.8mm over the past 24 hours.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Gulshan-e-Maymar (Jamia Rasheed) recorded 93.1mm, DHA Phase VII 90mm, and North Karachi 72.2mm.
Other areas also saw significant showers, including Gulshan-e-Hadeed (69mm), Nazimabad (54mm), Korangi (55mm), Orangi Town (47.2mm), Saadi Town (55.1mm), Kemari (52.2mm), Jinnah Terminal (53mm), Airport Old Area (46.7mm), PAF Faisal Base (55mm), Met Office University Road (45.4mm), PAF Masroor Base in Karachi West (41mm), and Bahria Town (45mm).
All educational institutions (public and private) within the Karachi Division’s jurisdiction will remain closed. A notification in this regard has been issued by the Commissioner Karachi.
Read:Â Schools to remain closed in Karachi today
Due to heavy monsoon rains, the Thado Dam located in Gadap Town has overflowed. The floodwaters have submerged the Super Highway (M-9 Motorway), significantly affecting traffic flow. Following reports of a rickshaw and van being swept away by the strong current and water entering residential homes, Rescue 1122 and Edhi Marine Services teams promptly arrived at the scene.
The Sindh government has decided to break a section of the central barrier of the M-9 to provide a passage for the water. This work is being carried out based on the evolving situation. Sindh Chief Minister has directed that the M-9 be cleared as soon as possible to restore the smooth flow of traffic.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has issued instructions to closely monitor the water flow from the dam and to keep the public continuously informed to prevent further harm or inconvenience. On the CM’s instructions, MNA Jam Karim and MPA Saleem Baloch were also present at the site.
Floodwaters entered homes in several areas, including Malir Khameeso Jokhio Goth, Sohrab Goth, Machar Colony, and New Karachi’s Khameeso Goth. Residents faced severe difficulties as the water inundated their homes. In some areas, people began trying to drain the water themselves and move to safer locations.
Read more:Â Karachi rains threat eases as Arabian Sea depression weakens: PMD
According to a Rescue 1122 spokesperson, their team at the site spotted a stalled vehicle caught in the current. The car appeared to be empty, but the water flow was strong, and the team was trying to approach it. Residents reported that three women had gone missing in the flash floods, and search efforts were underway.
The Sindh Chief Minister’s spokesperson stated that a Shehzore truck was swept away in the floodwaters from the dam’s spillway, but all four individuals inside were safely rescued under the supervision of the DC Malir.
The overflow of Thado Dam submerged the surrounding areas, streets, and alleys in Gadap Town. Residents of Scheme 33 and other nearby localities spent the night in fear due to the floodwaters. Late at night, areas like Sohrab Goth, Machar Colony, and Hasan Nauman Colony, along with Khameeso Goth in the New Karachi Industrial Area, were inundated as local streams overflowed, trapping residents in their homes. Many spent the night trying to reach safer ground on their own.
In addition to Gadap, various parts of the city were affected by heavy downpours. Areas like North Karachi Do Minute Chowrangi, Nagan Chowrangi, Sharah-e-Pakistan, Jail Chowrangi, Liaquatabad, Buffer Zone, Anda Mor, Qalandaria Chowk, Five Star Chowrangi, KDA Chowrangi, Essa Nagri, Sir Shah Suleman Road, Sharah-e-Faisal, and PECHS Society experienced severe waterlogging, as rainwater accumulated on the roads, causing major difficulties for citizens.
Due to the overflow of Thado Dam in Gadap Town, floodwaters reached Saadi Town late at night, sparking panic among residents. In response, people began taking precautionary measures, attempting to safeguard their homes and vehicles from the approaching water.
Alternative routes
As a precaution, the traffic police have implemented alternative routes, traffic coming from Hyderabad to Karachi is being diverted toward Model Road.
Also read:Â Karachi traffic police issues rain diversion plan
Traffic from Karachi heading toward Hyderabad is being redirected back into the city via the Sabzi Mandi cut. The situation remains tense, and authorities continue to monitor and manage the impact of the floodwaters.
Power Outages
According to a K-Electric (KE) spokesperson, the monsoon rains continued in Karachi on Tuesday for the third consecutive day. During intermittent spells of heavy and light rain, K-Electric’s network remained stable and operational across all sectors, including generation, transmission, and distribution. Electricity supply across the city largely continued without interruption.
The electricity transmission system in the city of Karachi remains stable. Electricity is being supplied through more than 1,975 out of 2,100 feeders, according to a KE spokesperson. There are reports of rainwater accumulation in low-lying areas, which is causing difficulties in restoration efforts, the spokesperson added.
Recently restored areas include Ziauddin Hospital, Kausar Niazi Colony, North Nazimabad Blocks H and F, Surjani Sector 5-C1, 5-C2, 5-C3, 5-C4, and North Karachi.
Electricity has also been restored in Shah Faisal Colony No. 2, Korangi Golden Town, Natha Khan, Naseerabad, Barelvi Colony, Shah Faisal No. 1 Vegetable Market, Resham Gali, Azeem Pura, Muaz Garden, Millat Town, Ghazali Town, Hazara Chowk, Kohati Mohalla, Sadat Colony, New Iqbalabad, Cantt Bazaar (Drigh Road), Malir, and Sadiq Goth, as well as Gulistan-e-Johar Block 12, Shah Latif Town Sectors 16/A, 16/B, and 17/A, Super Highway, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Christian and Umar Farooq Colony, and Askari-III near Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center.
Other areas where power has been restored include Mari Baloch and Ghulam Qadir Rind Goth, 500 Quarters, Model Colony, Old and New Labour Square, Cattle Colony, Faiz Ganj, Shehryar Town, Barkat-e-Madina, Shershah, Atma Ram Road, and Shikarpur Colony.
Power will be restored in the remaining areas as soon as rainwater drainage is completed and safety clearance is received from field teams, assured KE.
K-Electric spokesperson Imran Rana appealed to citizens to observe safety measures during the rains. He advised staying away from electric poles, meters, service brackets, and broken or tangled internet or cable wires. He also warned against using indoor wiring or water pumps with wet hands or while standing in water. In case of any electrical faults at home, citizens are urged to seek help from certified electricians.
His statement came after three unfortunate electrocution incidents were reported by Tuesday evening in Ayub Goth (Gadap Town), Khawaja Ajmer Nagri, and Shah Faisal.
Expressing sorrow over the incidents, the K-Electric spokesperson clarified that the Ayub Goth incident occurred inside a shop and, according to preliminary investigations, did not involve any K-Electric infrastructure. Similarly, the Khawaja Ajmer Nagri incident was related to indoor wiring of a residential property, again with no link to K-Electric installations. The Shah Faisal No. 3 incident occurred during an attempted electricity theft.
Rescue operation
Rescue operations continued throughout the night to move rain-affected individuals to safe locations.
Rescue 1122 teams, in coordination with district administration, successfully relocated over 350 citizens to safer areas through timely action.
In Saadi Town, 10 individuals trapped in water were rescued by Rescue 1122 in collaboration with the Pakistan Army, according to the Rescue 1122 spokesperson. Deputy Commissioner East and Deputy Commissioner Malir personally oversaw the rescue efforts.
In District Keamari, rescue operations were also conducted with the assistance of the revenue and police departments. Under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner Keamari Madiha Narejo, 100 individuals were safely relocated.
Two individuals became trapped in a flood surge in the Lyari River near Imtiaz Super Store in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Upon receiving the report, a Rescue 1122 team promptly reached the location.
According to the spokesperson, the Rescue Water Team, along with an ambulance and water rescue vehicle, responded quickly and launched a rescue operation. After considerable effort, both individuals were safely rescued from the floodwaters and moved to a safe location.
