The Hub Dam, Karachi’s main water source, has reached near its maximum capacity following intense monsoon rainfall across Sindh and Balochistan, prompting emergency alerts from irrigation and disaster management authorities.
According to the Irrigation Department, the water level in the dam surged to 338 feet on Thursday, up from 335 feet a day earlier. With the reservoir’s maximum capacity set at 339 feet, only one foot of storage remains before it begins to overflow.
Officials said the dam’s spillway may be opened at any moment to release excess water, a routine safety measure monitored by the Ministry of Water Resources, WAPDA, and the Lasbela administration.
Authorities have urged residents living near the Hub River to evacuate immediately to avoid potential flooding, while owners of nearby crush plants have been instructed to move their equipment and workers from the riverbanks.
Located about 56 kilometres from Karachi, the Hub Dam supplies 100 million gallons of water daily to the metropolis and adjoining areas of Balochistan. Recent heavy rainfall in the surrounding mountains and hilly regions has rapidly filled the reservoir.
Officials assured the public that water will be released carefully to ensure the dam’s safety and minimize flood risks.
Meanwhile, in another development, the Thado Dam in Karachi’s Gadap area overflowed earlier this week, forcing authorities to declare an emergency in Malir’s Memon Goth. The rising water level reached the M-9 Motorway near Jamali Bridge, inundating sections of the highway and disrupting traffic between Karachi and Hyderabad.
Following directives from the Chief Secretary, the Karachi Commissioner dispatched a response team to the affected site.