Karachi was once again battered by heavy rainfall accompanied by fierce thunderstorms and hail on Thursday night, affecting numerous neighborhoods across the sprawling metropolis. The downpour was particularly intense in areas such as Gulshan-e-Iqbal, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, North Karachi, SITE, Manghopir, and Nusrat Bhutto Colony, where residents experienced significant waterlogging and disruptions. Other localities including Yousuf Goth, Surjani Town, Khawaja Ajmer Nagri, and the FB area also reported heavy showers, adding to the city’s ongoing struggle with seasonal rains.
As the rain persisted, major roads and residential zones in Saddar, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Lyari, Kharadar, and the historic Old City were submerged under accumulated rainwater, making commuting difficult and threatening property damage. The downpour extended further to affluent areas like Clifton and the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), while parts of District East—including Korangi, Landhi, Malir, the Airport vicinity, and Shahrah-e-Faisal—also faced heavy rainfall. In addition to the rain, a hailstorm struck sections of Keamari, compounding the challenges faced by residents and authorities alike.
This latest bout of severe weather follows a devastating spell of rain and storms that hit the city the previous night, resulting in tragic loss of life and widespread injuries. At least 19 people lost their lives, and 27 others sustained injuries in various incidents triggered by the violent weather conditions. The storm brought with it powerful winds gusting up to 97 kilometers per hour, which uprooted trees, toppled electricity poles, and caused the collapse of roofs and walls in multiple neighborhoods.
The deadliest event occurred in Mowach Goth, located in the Baldia area, where a wall gave way under the force of the winds, crushing 13 people who had sought shelter beside it. In another fatal incident in Quaidabad, a couple perished when the roof of their home caved in. A lightning strike near Yar Muhammad Goth in Landhi claimed another life, while in Korangi No. 5, a falling tree near Tasleem Ground resulted in one fatality. Additional casualties included a woman in Korangi who died due to a roof collapse, and a four-year-old girl in Bhains Colony’s Pirano Goth who lost her life when a roof fell on her. Several others were injured in similar structural failures across Malir’s Bhains Colony and other areas.
Emergency responders also reported injuries caused by fallen trees in Clifton, and a hospital wall collapse in PECHS damaged parked vehicles, raising concerns about the structural integrity of buildings during such extreme weather events. Machhar Colony experienced further damage, highlighting the widespread impact of the storm across Karachi’s diverse neighborhoods.
The severe weather conditions also disrupted aviation activities in the city. The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority temporarily suspended the movement of light aircraft, including Cessna planes, as a precautionary measure. Flight operations at Karachi’s main airport were briefly halted to ensure passenger safety amid the adverse weather, causing delays and inconvenience for travelers.
These consecutive days of intense rainfall and storms have once again exposed Karachi’s vulnerability to natural calamities, underscoring the urgent need for improved infrastructure and disaster preparedness. As the city grapples with the aftermath, authorities are working to restore normalcy and provide relief to affected communities, while meteorological departments continue to monitor weather patterns closely to warn residents of potential future hazards.
