At least 5 killed as heavy rain lashes Karachi; city administration declares emergency
KARACHI: At least five people were killed on Thursday as heavy rain lashed the metropolis, while the city administration declared an emergency.
According to police and rescue officials, the deaths occurred in separate incidents; four people died due to electrocution while a fifth was killed due to a crumbling building amid the heavy rainfall.
Site Superhighway Industrial Area Police Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammed Nawaz told Dawn that Shahabuddin, 40, was trying to fix an electrical issue in Ahsanabad when he suffered an electric shock and died. He said the deceased was believed to be an employee of K-Electric.
PIB Colony police SHO Rana Mohammed Ajmal said that a 35-yer-old man, Abdul Waleed, died when he touched an electric pole near Faizan Milad Masjid.
Surjani Police SHO Sohail Khaskheli told Dawn that 7-year old Dua Batool Sarfraz was killed when she suffered an electric shock inside her home in Sector-7-A. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Edhi Foundation said in a statement that a 23-year-old man, Sartaj, was electrocuted inside his home in Hasan Brohi Goth near Bashir Chowk.
Separately, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan told Dawn that heavy rains adversely affected the structure of a three-storey building near Bismillah Hotel in Pak Colony. The wall of the second floor collapsed, trapping a passerby under the debris. The rescue team retrieved the man from the rubble and took him to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Heavy rainfall
Karachites in various areas witnessed light showers in the morning, with most localities reporting torrential rainfall shortly after 2pm.
According to the official data, the highest rainfall was recorded in Nazimabad (Paposh Nagar) at 69.6 millimetres, followed by Kemari with 56mm and Saadi Town with 48mm.
Meanwhile, other notable areas included University Road at 44.2mm, Bahria Town at 43.5mm, and Orangi Town at 39.4mm. Gulshan-e-Maymar recorded 36.0mm, while Jinnah Terminal and Surjani Town each received 35.0mm. The Old Area Airport recorded 32.6mm, Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase II 33.0mm, and PAF Faisal Base 30.4mm.
Lower amounts were observed in North Karachi with 28.8mm, PAF Masroor Base 29.0mm, Korangi 18.2mm, and Gulshan-0-Hadeed 17.0mm.
A PMD official said a hailstorm was reported from the Mauripur area of the metropolis.
A K-Electric spokesperson, in a statement, said: “As a safety measure, power supply may be temporarily suspended in some areas; it is restored after rain subsides and clearance from field teams [has been received].”
The KE official advised citizens to maintain a safe distance from TV/internet cables, broken wires and electricity installations.
Rain disrupts traffic flow
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, in a post on X, said, “All underpasses of the city are clear and open for traffic. Naalas have so far worked out well and have taken water well. Water had accumulated at various points, however the water level has significantly come down. Please avoid unnecessary movement.”
The Karachi Traffic Police reported multiple waterlogged roads and significant traffic disruptions across the city following heavy rainfall.
Main Sharea Faisal, from Nursery towards Baloch Colony, is closed, with vehicles diverted via Allah Wali Chowrangi. Slow-moving traffic was also reported on Agha Khan Road between Tanker Chowrangi and Garden Chowk in both directions, while the stretch from the airport towards the city on main Sharea Faisal experienced congestion due to water accumulation.
Boat Basin towards the Submarine Underpass was partially closed for light traffic, and Jinnah Avenue from Tank Chowk to Malir Halt faced slow traffic compounded by potholes. Traffic police remain on-site to manage the flow, the department said.
According to an alert issued by the Traffic Police, the flow of traffic was slow on both sides of road from Chakra Chowrangi towards Bilal Chowrangi at Korangi Industrial Area.
Authorities have also issued alternative routes to ease travel for motorists. Citizens travelling from FTC to the airport via Sindhi Muslim or Shahrah-i-Quaid-i-Azam are advised to use the route via Allah Wali Chowrangi, Tariq Road, Ittihad Light Signal, and Char Minar Chowrangi towards Aga Khan Hospital.
Those travelling from Baloch Colony via Karsaz should use Stadium Road, Dalmia, Millennium, Johar Mor, Johar Chowrangi, and Phelwan Goth towards ASF Headquarters, while commuters from Drigh Road to FTC can take Karsaz, Stadium Road, and Bahadurabad-Char Minar route.
Other recommended diversions include: Millennium Mall and Stadium Road for those on National Stadium Road, Char Minar Chowrangi via National Stadium Road or Korangi Road for travellers from Jail Flyover, Johar Mor and Stadium Road for commuters from NIPA Chowrangi, and Akhtar Colony routes for those on Star Gate or Korangi Road.
Commuters from Liaquatabad No.10 to University Road can take Sahiba Akhtar Road via 13-D Zia Colony, Mochi Mor, and R.B. Medical to reach Gulshan Chowrangi, while those travelling from Meteorology to Malir can use Samama, Johar Chowrangi, Habib University, and ASF Headquarters.
Motorists were urged to follow traffic police instructions, take alternative routes where possible, and exercise caution on waterlogged and slippery roads.
Weather forecast
In a weather advisory for Karachi Division, the PMD forecast cloudy weather with “intermittent rain/wind-thunderstorm with few moderate to isolated heavy falls” for Thursday.
The maximum temperature was likely to remain between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius, with humidity levels ranging between 60-83 per cent during the day.
On Friday, Karachi Division is expected to see partly cloudy weather with “chances of light rain/drizzle”, with mostly sunny skies forecasted on Saturday, when mercury can hit 30-32°C during the day.
According to a statement issued by his office, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) staff to remain alert.
“Besides the deployed staff, rapid response teams have also been formed. If further needed, staff will be dispatched to the relevant locations,” the mayor was quoted as saying.
A statement issued by the KMC spokesperson said the authority’s staff would remain stationed at eight nullahs and 12 choking points to monitor the situation.
Rain emergency declared in Karachi
A rain emergency has been declared in Karachi in view of the rain situation.
Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi said the city administration has activated measures to deal with the rainfall, adding that citizens could contact the rescue helpline at 1299 for any complaints or assistance.
The staff of relevant institutions has been deployed under the supervision of assistant commissioners, he added.
He said that the staff of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) and the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB), town administrations, and necessary machinery and vehicles were active, and work to drain accumulated water from the roads was underway.
“They will perform relief work and grievance redressal duties, including helping in water drainage traffic problems,” he said.
To deal with the rainfall, all deputy commissioners have been directed to remain alert, and concerned officers to stay in the field.
In addition, rain emergency help desks and camps have been established in various districts and subdivisions at the instructions of the commissioner.
In District East, help desks had been established at Nipa Chowrangi, National Stadium, Exhibition Chowrangi, Samama Chowk, Madras Chowk, Safoora Chowrangi and Sohrab Goth.
In District South, help desks had been established at MA Jinnah Road, Shaheen Complex Chowk, KMT Main Office, Town Administration Lyari Office, Chakiwara and other areas.
In District Keamari, they were placed in Baldia Town Office, the Keamari DC’s office, Truck Stand Mauripur and Gulberg Interchange Site.
In District Central, water pumps had been deployed at Ayesha Manzil and other places in the Gulberg sub-division, while arrangements were being made for more.
Further, the Sindh government appealed to citizens to exercise caution during rainy weather. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that, in view of the rains, advance arrangements had been made and the leaves of essential staff had been cancelled.
Additional de-watering pumps have been installed for the timely drainage of rainwater from low-lying areas, he said, while drainage chokepoints at various locations in the city have already been identified. Staff have been deployed to monitor these chokepoints, he added.
“The officers of the relevant provincial government institutions and local government institutions have been instructed to remain in the field on high alert,” he added.
Memon asked citizens to follow precautionary measures and contact the relevant institutions immediately in case of an emergency.
Separately, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) established rain emergency centres in all its regional offices including in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, adding they would remain in place till April 8.
According to a handout issued by the Sindh information ministry, Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said SBCA officers will remain in the field and ensure the monitoring of dilapidated buildings.
In the statement, SCBA Director General Muzamil Hussain Halepoto urged residents to vacate weak and old buildings, and to avoid going near under-construction structures.
Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho also directed police control rooms to remain on high alert, adding that full contact should be maintained with rescue agencies to deal with emergency situations.
