KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) announced on Friday that the rain system affecting Karachi over the past three days is expected to move out today. Only light showers are likely in the morning, according to officials.
A new monsoon system, however, is forecast to enter Sindh on August 27. The system could bring fresh rainfall to Karachi and other parts of the province until August 30, said a Met Office spokesperson.
The recent spell of heavy rain caused severe flooding in Karachi, which is home to more than 20 million people. Officials confirmed at least 17 deaths due to drowning, electrocution, road accidents, and building collapse.
The downpour disrupted power supplies, mobile services, and flight schedules. Television footage showed cars floating on waterlogged streets and houses submerged. Major roads, including Jahangir Road, were badly damaged, while underpasses at Sohrab Goth and Drigh Road remained flooded.
Traffic movement was severely affected as rainwater accumulated on Airport Road and other key routes. Korangi causeways were closed after the Malir River overflowed, making travel unsafe. Several private schools suspended classes, with some shifting to online learning, although the Sindh government has not issued a province-wide closure order.
The rains also triggered prolonged power outages across Karachi. Residents in Gulistan-e-Jauhar protested against K-Electric after facing more than 56 hours without electricity or water. Similar complaints came from Saddar, Jubilee Market, and Muslim Housing Society.
K-Electric stated that power was restored to 2,000 out of 2,100 feeders, while work continued to reconnect the remaining 100. However, outages lasting over 24 hours were still reported in several neighborhoods.
For many citizens, the flooding and blackouts once again highlighted Karachi’s fragile infrastructure and vulnerability to extreme weather. Pakistan, one of the countries most at risk from climate change, continues to struggle with unpredictable monsoon patterns.
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