Over 400 rescued as rains flood Karachi, death toll rises to four

KARACHI:

Torrential rains paralysed Karachi on Wednesday, inundating neighbourhoods, sweeping away vehicles and killing at least four people, while over 400 were rescued as the army joined civil authorities in relief operations across flooded areas.

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said large-scale rescue and relief operations are under way in Karachi following this torrential rains, with civil and military institutions working in coordination.

“The Sindh government, Pakistan Army, Rescue 1122, PDMA, Sindh Police and other agencies are jointly carrying out rescue and relief operations. Because of timely planning and institutional harmony, citizens have been kept safe,” Memon said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said heavy rainfall had left low-lying neighbourhoods waterlogged and residents struggling, prompting the district administration to deploy 16 rescue teams. “The Army, Rescue 1122 and police immediately began joint relief activities,” he added.

Memon said floodwater from Lath Dam reached the M-9 Motorway overnight, stranding several vehicles. “ACS East, FWO and local residents immediately moved 17 vehicles to safety, while Rescue 1122 evacuated more people. In total, 172 individuals and 23 vehicles were rescued,” he said.

According to the minister, the overflow of the Lyari River inundated between 50 and 55 houses in Machar Colony, forcing the relocation of 230 to 250 residents to mosques, seminaries and nearby homes. Dozens more were rescued from Saadi Town, Saima Society, Nishter Basti, Essa Nagri, Korangi Nullah and Lasi Goth. The Pakistan Navy also assisted in evacuating people.

“Those affected have been accommodated at local facilities. KMC, Water Board, PDMA and Army engineers are busy draining water. At 3 a.m., a special operation was carried out near Malir Cantonment to divert water into the Thaddo Nullah,” Memon said.

He noted that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah is personally overseeing operations, while the Chief Secretary visited Shahrah-e-Faisal, II Chundrigar Road, MA Jinnah Road and Tower. Memon praised the traffic police for keeping major roads open despite the downpour.

Memon said 16 Rescue 1122 and PDMA teams with 380 personnel remained active throughout the night, evacuating more than 400 people from Sohrab Goth, Lasi Goth, Gadap, Machar Colony, Saadi Garden, Korangi Nullah and other areas.

“From Sohrab Goth 14 were rescued, from Lasi Goth 85, from Gadap 4 and from Machar Colony in Keamari 200 people. From Saadi Garden 12 individuals, including two families, were saved. Two people — a 16-year-old boy and a 60-year-old labourer — were rescued jointly by Navy and Rescue 1122 teams from Korangi Nullah. From Nishter Basti and Essa Nagri, 8 people including children and women were also evacuated,” he said.

The senior minister said no major casualties had been reported so far. “Only one citizen lost his life in an unfortunate accident. The Sindh government is fully active and efforts are ongoing for the rehabilitation of citizens and permanent solutions to problems in the affected areas,” he said.

Meanwhile, rescue officials confirmed that at least seven people were swept away when a rickshaw and two cars plunged into the swollen Konkar stream in Gadap Town during overnight heavy rain.

Rescue teams recovered the bodies of four victims – a woman and her son among them – during a day-long search operation, officials confirmed. Three more people remain missing, with efforts to trace them ongoing.

The deceased were identified as 60-year-old Nabu Gulab, her 45-year-old son Raja, and 40-year-old Javed Shah, son of Muhammad Habib Shah. All were residents of Gadap Town.

“The strong current hampered rescue efforts overnight. Teams resumed the operation in the morning and managed to recover three bodies,” said Gadap Town SHO Sarfaraz Jatoi.

In a separate incident, police in Mauripur said the body of a man, believed to be around 60 years old, was recovered from the sea near Manora Salehabad Jaba Jetty.

The body was shifted to Sohrab Goth Edhi morgue after initial examination. Authorities said no documents were found on the deceased, making immediate identification impossible.

Relief and rescue work

Due to heavy monsoon rains, the Thado Dam located in Gadap Town overflowed, submerging the Super Highway (M-9 Motorway) and significantly affecting traffic flow.

The overflow from the Thado Dam also inundated surrounding areas, streets, and alleys in Gadap Town. Residents of Scheme 33 and nearby localities spent the night in fear as floodwaters entered their neighbourhoods.

Late at night, areas including Sohrab Goth, Machar Colony, Hasan Nauman Colony, and Khameeso Goth in the New Karachi Industrial Area were also inundated as local streams overflowed, trapping residents in their homes. Many people spent the night trying to reach safer ground on their own.

Elsewhere in the city, several neighbourhoods were hit hard by the downpour. North Karachi’s Do Minute Chowrangi, Nagan Chowrangi, Sharah-e-Pakistan, Jail Chowrangi, Liaquatabad, Buffer Zone, Anda Mor, Qalandaria Chowk, Five Star Chowrangi, KDA Chowrangi, Essa Nagri, Sir Shah Suleman Road, Sharah-e-Faisal, and PECHS all experienced severe waterlogging, causing major difficulties for commuters and residents.

As floodwaters from the Thado Dam reached Saadi Town late Tuesday, panic spread among residents. People began taking precautionary measures, attempting to safeguard their homes and vehicles.

Pakistan Army rescue teams were mobilised within hours of the downpour, officials said. Troops worked with Sindh Rangers, law enforcement agencies, and the civil administration to evacuate people from flooded areas and ensure the drainage of accumulated rainwater in residential neighbourhoods.

Soldiers also assisted in restoring traffic flow on key arteries, including the M-9 Motorway, where several vehicles had been stranded. Residents of Saima and Saadi Town were among those relocated to safer areas. “Army personnel remained busy throughout the day, rescuing citizens and providing relief,” officials said. Locals expressed gratitude for what they described as a swift and timely response.

According to a Rescue 1122 spokesperson, their team spotted a stalled vehicle caught in the current. The car appeared empty, but the flow of water was strong, and the team was trying to approach it.

Rescue 1122 teams, in coordination with the district administration, successfully relocated over 350 citizens to safer areas through timely action.

In Saadi Town, 10 people trapped in floodwaters were rescued by Rescue 1122 in collaboration with the Pakistan Army, according to the spokesperson. Deputy Commissioner East and Deputy Commissioner Malir personally supervised the rescue operations.

In District Keamari, rescue efforts were also carried out with the support of revenue and police departments. Assistant Commissioner Keamari Madiha Narejo led the operation that safely relocated 100 individuals.

In Gulshan-e-Iqbal, two people were trapped in a flood surge in the Lyari River near Imtiaz Super Store. A Rescue 1122 team, equipped with an ambulance and water rescue vehicle, promptly responded. After considerable effort, both individuals were safely rescued and moved to a secure location.

The Sindh government later decided to break a section of the central barrier of the M-9 to allow floodwaters to pass through. The work is being carried out in response to the evolving situation. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed that the motorway be cleared as soon as possible to restore traffic.

The CM also instructed officials to closely monitor the water flow from the dam and to keep the public continuously informed to prevent further harm. On his orders, MNA Jam Karim and MPA Saleem Baloch visited the site.

According to the CM’s spokesperson, a Shehzore truck was swept away by floodwaters from the dam’s spillway, but all four people inside were rescued under the supervision of the DC Malir.

Sindh dismisses rumours of Shahrah-e-Bhutto damage

Reports emerged on Wednesday that heavy rainwater from the Malir River had cut through an under-construction section of Shahrah-e-Bhutto near Jam Goth, leaving a deep gash several feet wide and disrupting traffic in the area.

According to residents, the incident occurred late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning when floodwaters surged across the partially built road. Police from Memon Goth station reached the site soon after and cordoned off the affected stretch with safety ropes, barring unauthorised entry.

However, Sindh government spokesperson Sumeta Afzal Syed strongly denied claims that Shahrah-e-Bhutto had collapsed.

“Shahrah-e-Bhutto is fully functional and traffic is flowing smoothly. We request the public not to pay attention to rumours,” Sumeta said in a statement.

She acknowledged that minor depressions had appeared on some under-construction portions of the road, but described them as a natural occurrence. “Small wear and tear is a normal process for newly built roads. These are fixed immediately once identified,” she added.

The spokesperson said the overall situation in Karachi had improved, with all major roads cleared despite continuous rain since Tuesday. She said the provincial government was extending full support to residents affected by flooding from the Lyari and Malir rivers.

“The Sindh government is providing all possible assistance and arrangements for affected citizens. We appeal to the public not to believe in any rumours,” Sumeta said.

Rainfall statistics

Karachi was lashed by heavy downpours as the second wave of monsoon rains hit the city on Tuesday, with Surjani Town receiving the highest rainfall at 129.8mm over the past 24 hours.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Gulshan-e-Maymar (Jamia Rasheed) recorded 93.1mm, DHA Phase VII 90mm, and North Karachi 72.2mm.

Other areas also saw significant showers, including Gulshan-e-Hadeed (69mm), Nazimabad (54mm), Korangi (55mm), Orangi Town (47.2mm), Saadi Town (55.1mm), Kemari (52.2mm), Jinnah Terminal (53mm), Airport Old Area (46.7mm), PAF Faisal Base (55mm), Met Office University Road (45.4mm), PAF Masroor Base in Karachi West (41mm), and Bahria Town (45mm).

Continuous rains caused flooding in several areas, including Gharibabad, Liaquatabad, the Liaquatabad underpass, and around the National Stadium. Water from a nearby dam entered the route from the Super Highway to Malir Cantt, disrupting movement.

The Lyari River overflowed, sweeping away several vehicles. Rescue teams later retrieved two submerged vehicles with the help of a crane.

In Quaidabad, erosion along the banks of the Malir River has weakened the area, prompting the district administration to build a protective embankment. Rescue agencies remain deployed at affected sites.

All educational institutions (public and private) within the Karachi Division’s jurisdiction will remain closed. A notification in this regard has been issued by the Commissioner Karachi.

Alternative routes

As a precaution, the traffic police have implemented alternative routes, traffic coming from Hyderabad to Karachi is being diverted toward Model Road.

Traffic from Karachi heading toward Hyderabad is being redirected back into the city via the Sabzi Mandi cut. The situation remains tense, and authorities continue to monitor and manage the impact of the floodwaters.

Power Outages

According to a K-Electric (KE) spokesperson, the monsoon rains continued in Karachi on Tuesday for the third consecutive day. During intermittent spells of heavy and light rain, K-Electric’s network remained stable and operational across all sectors, including generation, transmission, and distribution. Electricity supply across the city largely continued without interruption.

The electricity transmission system in the city of Karachi remains stable. Electricity is being supplied through more than 1,975 out of 2,100 feeders, according to a KE spokesperson. There are reports of rainwater accumulation in low-lying areas, which is causing difficulties in restoration efforts, the spokesperson added.

Recently restored areas include Ziauddin Hospital, Kausar Niazi Colony, North Nazimabad Blocks H and F, Surjani Sector 5-C1, 5-C2, 5-C3, 5-C4, and North Karachi.

Electricity has also been restored in Shah Faisal Colony No. 2, Korangi Golden Town, Natha Khan, Naseerabad, Barelvi Colony, Shah Faisal No. 1 Vegetable Market, Resham Gali, Azeem Pura, Muaz Garden, Millat Town, Ghazali Town, Hazara Chowk, Kohati Mohalla, Sadat Colony, New Iqbalabad, Cantt Bazaar (Drigh Road), Malir, and Sadiq Goth, as well as Gulistan-e-Johar Block 12, Shah Latif Town Sectors 16/A, 16/B, and 17/A, Super Highway, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Christian and Umar Farooq Colony, and Askari-III near Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center.

Other areas where power has been restored include Mari Baloch and Ghulam Qadir Rind Goth, 500 Quarters, Model Colony, Old and New Labour Square, Cattle Colony, Faiz Ganj, Shehryar Town, Barkat-e-Madina, Shershah, Atma Ram Road, and Shikarpur Colony.

Power will be restored in the remaining areas as soon as rainwater drainage is completed and safety clearance is received from field teams, assured KE.

K-Electric spokesperson Imran Rana appealed to citizens to observe safety measures during the rains. He advised staying away from electric poles, meters, service brackets, and broken or tangled internet or cable wires.

He also warned against using indoor wiring or water pumps with wet hands or while standing in water. In case of any electrical faults at home, citizens are urged to seek help from certified electricians.

His statement came after three unfortunate electrocution incidents were reported by Tuesday evening in Ayub Goth (Gadap Town), Khawaja Ajmer Nagri, and Shah Faisal.

Expressing sorrow over the incidents, the K-Electric spokesperson clarified that the Ayub Goth incident occurred inside a shop and, according to preliminary investigations, did not involve any K-Electric infrastructure.

Similarly, the Khawaja Ajmer Nagri incident was related to indoor wiring of a residential property, again with no link to K-Electric installations. The Shah Faisal No 3 incident occurred during an attempted electricity theft.