It’s raining in Karachi. Photo: APP (file)
KARACHI:
Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds ravaged Karachi, disrupting the city’s systems and turning ongoing development projects into a major danger for residents. Many citizens fell into potholes, while motorcycles and cars were damaged. The Red Line and the Karimabad underpass became symbols of fear as millions of travelers found themselves stuck in severe traffic jams for hours. Streets and residential neighborhoods were flooded with rainwater, while drainage systems remained largely ineffective.
Overflowing sewers and pipes have worsened the problems in several areas. Despite the Karachi Mayor’s visits to several places, the administrative machinery of the city’s municipal bodies remained largely absent.
Rainwater accumulated in the same places as in previous periods, but this time, ongoing development projects have made the situation worse.
Videos circulated on social media showing a motorcyclist stuck in a pothole, searching for his bike, while a nearby car had also fallen into a pothole. Citizens warned others on social media to avoid traveling from Hussainabad to Karimabad. The Karimabad underpass, already delayed for three years, deteriorated further after the rains.
Similarly, construction work along the University Road Red Line has caused significant disruption. Traveling from Chaurangi Jail to Hasan Square and from Hasan Square to Nipa Chawrangi has become a nightmare for commuters.
A strong new western weather system entering Pakistan from Balochistan brought widespread rains to Karachi on Thursday. Light to heavy rain persisted in some areas for more than an hour, and in some localities, torrential rains caused urban flooding. Thick clouds darkened the city even in the afternoon, while hail was reported in areas such as Mauripur and Clifton. The weather department forecasts partly cloudy skies with light to moderate rain for Friday.
The system, which entered from southwest Balochistan, started affecting Karachi on Wednesday evening and continued till Thursday afternoon.
Strong winds were also recorded during the rain, reaching a maximum speed of 38 km/h. According to the Meteorological Department, Nazimabad recorded 6.69 mm of rainfall; Keamari: 5.6mm; City of Saadi: 4.8 mm; Gulistan-e-Johar: 4.42 mm; M-9 motorway: 4.35 mm; Orangi Town: 3.94mm; Gulshan-e-Maymar: 3.6 mm; Surjani City: 3.5 mm; DHA: 3.3 mm; Old Airport: 3.26mm; Shara Faisal: 3.04mm; Mauripur: 2.9mm; Karachi North: 2.88 mm; Korangi: 1.82mm; and Gulshan-e-Hadeed received 1.7 mm of rainfall.
After the rain, rainbows were visible in several areas.
The Early Warning Center of the Meteorological Department has predicted that the new weather system may continue to affect Karachi and several rural districts of Sindh until April 4. Authorities advised residents to take precautions and avoid non-essential travel.
Meanwhile, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) claimed that it had successfully managed the effects of heavy and intermittent rains across the city, ensuring rapid drainage of water and minimizing disruption to daily life.
