The death toll from Karachi’s relentless monsoon rains has climbed to 17, with urban flooding and infrastructure damage worsening across the city. Power outages, flight disruptions, and a tragic building collapse in Mominabad have further compounded the crisis, as authorities brace for more heavy showers over the coming days.
Karachi continues to face severe challenges as monsoon rains batter the city, causing widespread urban flooding, power outages, and infrastructure damage. The death toll from rain-related incidents rose to 17 on Wednesday, including children and a woman. Among the fatalities, a 70-year-old disabled man was found dead after falling from his bed into accumulated rainwater inside his home in PECHS.
Over the past 24 hours, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported significant rainfall, with 178 millimeters recorded in Gulshan-e-Hadeed and 145 millimeters on University Road. The resulting floods have left major thoroughfares impassable, with vehicles stranded on Karsaz and Malir Halt roads, and parts of the Old City Area, Aram Bagh, and Liaquatabad submerged.
Efforts to clear floodwaters and restore order are ongoing, with drainage operations focused on key roads. However, the situation remains dire, with many areas experiencing prolonged power outages. Despite the restoration of 2,000 feeders, 240 remain down, leaving large swathes of Karachi, including Gulistan-e-Jauhar, North Nazimabad, and DHA, without electricity for over 24 hours.
In addition to the floods, Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport has faced severe disruptions. Several domestic flights have been cancelled due to flooding, and international flight schedules have also been delayed as airline staff were unable to reach the airport.
The situation is compounded by the collapse of a three-storey building in Mominabad on Wednesday, which injured at least five people, and left others feared trapped under the rubble. Rescue operations are ongoing, with heavy machinery deployed to remove debris. Witnesses reported an explosion inside the building before it collapsed, triggering a fire that caused burn injuries to one individual.
The building collapse is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by unsafe structures in Karachi. The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) revealed that Karachi is home to 578 buildings declared unsafe for habitation, with the majority located in District South. The recent disaster follows last month’s deadly building collapse in Lyari’s Bhagdadi neighbourhood, which killed 27 people.
The Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court has ordered the closure of all courts in Karachi, including subordinate courts, as a precautionary measure in light of the continuing weather-related dangers. Meanwhile, the PMD has warned that more heavy showers, accompanied by isolated heavy falls, are expected in Karachi today and tomorrow, raising concerns about further urban flooding.
