Karachi endured a devastating thunderstorm on Wednesday night that resulted in the tragic loss of at least 19 lives. The powerful storm, accompanied by fierce gale-force winds, battered the city, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and uprooting numerous trees. As the city grapples with the aftermath, officials have issued warnings about additional heavy rainfall expected to hit Karachi in the hours ahead, urging residents to remain cautious and prepared.
The intense weather system began late Wednesday evening, unleashing heavy rain and thunderstorms across various parts of Karachi. The downpour led to the collapse of walls and roofs in several localities, contributing to the fatalities and injuries reported. Overnight and into Thursday, intermittent showers continued to affect multiple areas, including North Karachi, North Nazimabad, and Federal B Area, as well as surrounding neighborhoods. These sporadic rains have kept the city on alert, with many residents experiencing disruptions in their daily routines due to the persistent wet conditions.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has highlighted that the clouds currently hovering over the Arabian Sea are expected to move inland, bringing one or two more bouts of heavy rain to Karachi today. Forecasts predict rainfall amounts of 50 millimeters or more, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds, although the wind speeds are anticipated to be somewhat lower than those recorded during Wednesday night’s storm. The Met Office has also cautioned that rainfall intensity may vary across different parts of the city, ranging from moderate to heavy showers.
Yesterday’s storm brought the highest recorded rainfall of 55.6 millimeters in Korangi, one of Karachi’s industrial hubs. The heavy rain was followed by a noticeable drop in temperature, providing a brief respite from the city’s usual heat. Currently, Karachi is experiencing cloudy skies with cool and pleasant weather conditions prevailing. The PMD forecasts that the maximum temperature today will hover between 27°C and 29°C, while humidity remains high at around 82 percent, adding to the overall dampness in the atmosphere.
The human toll from the storm has been significant. In Baldia Town’s Mawachh Goth area, rescue teams have recovered the bodies of 13 individuals from the rubble of a collapsed building, with search efforts ongoing to locate others who may still be trapped beneath the debris. In Landhi’s Majeed Colony, a wall collapse claimed the lives of two people, including a woman, while injuring three others. Another fatality occurred near Yaru Goth in the Malir River area, where a man was struck by lightning. Additionally, a woman died when the roof of her house caved in at Korangi Sector 3½, and a man lost his life after a tree fell on him in Korangi No 5. Rescue authorities have reported at least seven people injured in various incidents related to the heavy rain and strong winds.
The PMD reported that wind speeds during the storm reached alarming levels, with gusts hitting 90 kilometers per hour on Sharea Faisal and 97 kilometers per hour in Mauripur. These powerful winds contributed to the widespread damage, including the collapse of billboards and the uprooting of trees. Karachi’s Mayor, Murtaza Wahab, urged citizens to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel, emphasizing the dangers posed by falling trees and debris. Meanwhile, residents in the Buffer Zone area have been facing prolonged power outages, with electricity remaining off since around 9 pm Wednesday night.
K-Electric officials confirmed that power supply is currently active on approximately 1,840 out of 2,100 feeders, noting a gradual reduction in the number of feeders affected by the rain to about 260. This ongoing restoration effort aims to bring electricity back to all affected neighborhoods as quickly as possible. In addition to Karachi, the Meteorological Department has forecasted that the westerly wave moving into the western regions of the country will bring rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, and isolated hailstorms to other parts of Sindh today.
Districts expected to experience these weather conditions include Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Nosheroferoz, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, and the entire Karachi Division. Furthermore, areas such as Larkana, Qambar Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Ghotki, and Sukkur are also likely to see rain and thunderstorms with strong winds over the next two days, though with occasional breaks in the precipitation. The PMD has also issued a warning about possible isolated lightning strikes during this period, advising farmers to take necessary precautions to protect their crops in line with the prevailing weather conditions.
Looking ahead, the Meteorological Department has indicated that another spell of westerly winds is expected from March 24 to 27, which may bring further rainfall to Karachi and other parts of Sindh. As the city continues to recover from the recent deadly storm, authorities and residents alike remain vigilant, preparing for the possibility of more challenging weather in the days to come.
