Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and financial heartbeat, is once again in crisis. Days of relentless rain have turned roads into rivers, flooded neighborhoods, and thrown daily life into chaos. Death Toll Rises to 15 as Torrential Rains Devastate Karachi in rain-related incidents, including electrocution, collapsing walls, and road accidents. The city is now grappling with massive flooding, power outages, and mounting public outrage.
Streets Turn into Rivers, City Comes to a Halt
Some of the heaviest rainfall in recent years pounded Karachi over the weekend, drowning low-lying areas like Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Saddar, Liaquatabad, and North Karachi. Drainage systems were overwhelmed, leaving vehicles stranded in knee- to waist-deep water and thousands of families trapped indoors.
Major roads, including Shahrah-e-Faisal and MA Jinnah Road, became traffic nightmares as commuters spent hours trying to get home. Public transport came to a standstill, while food delivery, ride-hailing, and courier services were thrown off track.
Death Toll Climbs Amid Dangerous Conditions
The death toll has risen to 15, with most victims dying from electrocution, collapsing structures, and accidents caused by slippery roads and open manholes. Children and young adults were among those tragically caught in the chaos. Rescue teams are working non-stop, but stretched resources mean many calls for help remain unanswered. READ NEXT https://elevenpakistan.com/senate-panel-reveals-no-donkey-meat-testing/
Hospitals are reporting a rise in injuries, and doctors are warning of possible outbreaks of dengue, malaria, and other waterborne diseases as stagnant water continues to collect across the city.
Power Blackouts Add to the Misery
Power outages have left large swathes of Karachi in darkness. Karachi Electric shut down dozens of feeders to prevent electrical accidents, but that left hundreds of thousands without power for hours—some for over a day. With electric water pumps offline, many areas also faced severe water shortages, forcing residents to buy expensive private water tankers.
Authorities Face Public Backlash
Residents are furious at local authorities, accusing them of failing to prepare despite repeated weather warnings. Stormwater drains weren’t cleared in time, and decades of neglect have left Karachi ill-equipped to handle such downpours.
The Sindh government says teams from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) are clearing major roads and helping stranded residents, but many say the response has been slow and ineffective.
Economy Takes a Hit
The rains have also slammed Karachi’s economy. Shops and markets in flooded areas have suffered heavy losses as water seeped into warehouses and ruined inventories. Industrial zones in Korangi and SITE slowed or halted production because workers couldn’t get to factories. Supply chains for perishable goods were disrupted, leading to temporary shortages in markets.X
Citizens Take Matters Into Their Own Hands
While authorities scramble, ordinary citizens and volunteer groups have stepped up. Community groups and NGOs distributed food, drinking water, and medical kits. Social media became a lifeline for updates on flooded routes and areas needing urgent help. Temporary shelters were set up for displaced families.
Will Karachi Ever Be Ready?
Once again, this disaster has exposed Karachi’s vulnerability to urban flooding. Experts blame years of mismanagement, clogged drainage channels, illegal constructions, and lack of investment in modern infrastructure. Environmentalists are calling for the revival of natural waterways, stricter waste management, and long-term planning to protect the city from climate change–fueled rains.
More Rain Ahead
The Meteorological Department has warned of more rainfall in the coming days, urging people to stay indoors during heavy showers and avoid power lines and flood-prone areas.
For now, Karachi struggles to recover—its residents torn between cleaning up the mess left behind and bracing for what may come next.
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