Monsoon rains 2025: Karachi streets turn into rivers

KARACHI: Pakistan’s largest city Karachi is facing an unprecedented monsoon onslaught as incessant rains have plunged the city into chaos. Power outages are widespread, and streets have turned into rivers, stranding commuters and bringing traffic to a near standstill.

According to Karachi Traffic Police, major arteries including MA Jinnah Road, II Chandrigarh Road, Bahadurabad, National Highway are waterlogged, causing widespread disruption. Authorities have urged drivers to slow down, maintain a safe distance and avoid unnecessary travel.

Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah has put all emergency services, including Rescue 1122 and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), on high alert. He ordered immediate drainage operations and demanded that deputy commissioners be on the ground to monitor relief efforts.

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Rainfall figures paint a dramatic picture: Nazimabad received 76.9 mm, North Karachi 56.8 mm, and Surjani Town 36 mm, with several other areas similarly drenched. K-Electric has temporarily cut power in low-lying areas as a precaution, hampering rescue and drainage operations.

The Met Department has warned that the torrential rains are far from over. Heavy rains and urban flooding are expected in Karachi, Thatta, Badin and other districts of Sindh until August 22, with the threat of flash floods in parts of Balochistan.

In response, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has declared a rain emergency and cancelled all holidays for essential services workers. Fire brigades, urban search and rescue, and municipal teams are working round the clock to clear waterlogged roads.

East Zone police are on high alert, ensuring water drainage, protecting residents and managing traffic amid the floods. Residents have been warned to avoid power lines, stay away from flooded roads, and report emergencies immediately.

As the city battles the wrath of this monsoon, citizens are bracing for more chaos. Experts have warned that while rains are essential for water supplies, uncontrolled downpours can lead to devastating urban flooding, landslides and widespread disruption.