Karachi witnessed another spell of heavy rainfall on Wednesday, triggering Karachi rain urban flooding that left large parts of the city without power, submerged in water, and struggling with traffic gridlocks.
For many residents, the biggest challenge was the prolonged electricity breakdowns. In areas such as Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Malir, Defence View, Mehmoodabad, and Gulshan-e-Hadeed, power remained suspended for over 24 hours. Some neighborhoods saw restoration after hours-long outages, but hundreds of feeders across the city are still down.
K-Electric, the city’s only power utility, said its field teams had been working “around the clock,” insisting that feeders were only switched off where safety demanded. However, many frustrated residents complained that no repair teams had reached their localities even hours after the rain had stopped.
“Restoration efforts continued despite severe waterlogging and congestion,” the company said in a statement. “Low-lying areas with stagnant water restricted access and created risks for both residents and repair staff.”
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The heavy downpour, accompanied by gusty winds, lashed Shah Faisal Colony, PECHS, Malir Halt, Jamshed Road, Bahadurabad, Saddar, and several other localities. Key arteries such as Sharea Faisal near the PAF Museum, II Chundrigar Road, Tower, Safoora, and Nazimabad underpasses remained waterlogged, making daily commutes nearly impossible.
Water also accumulated in the Red Zone, Governor House surroundings, Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Shaheen Complex, and near the Arts Council. Authorities were forced to close parts of Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road and Drigh Road underpass, causing further disruptions.
The Sindh government declared a public holiday in Karachi, warning that more rain is expected as the monsoon system strengthens.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab admitted that the city’s drainage system was overwhelmed. He revealed that over 235mm of rainfall had been recorded — far beyond the drainage system’s 40mm capacity.
“More than 3 million cubic feet of debris has been cleared from storm drains, which has improved water flow,” Wahab said. “But long-term solutions require expansion of drainage capacity, and that is often delayed due to land resistance from residents.”
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While main roads were reportedly cleared, several waterlogged pockets remained, slowing down traffic and adding to commuters’ misery.
Electricity remained the most pressing issue, with more than 550 feeders disrupted across Karachi. According to K-Electric, power is currently being supplied through around 1,550 of its 2,100 feeders. Access to some sites, however, was restricted due to submerged roads and disrupted fuel deliveries.
Despite reassurances, many citizens criticized the company, saying they felt “helpless” as power outages stretched up to 16 hours in some areas.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are likely to bring more downpours from August 19 to 22. The weatherman cautioned that districts including Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas, and Tharparkar may experience heavy rainfall with risks of Karachi rain urban flooding in low-lying areas.
