The port city continued to struggle on Wednesday as heavy monsoon rains lashed Karachi for a third straight day, inundating low-lying areas and swelling rivers, while rescue teams evacuated hundreds of residents to safety.
Though water was successfully drained from key arteries including Shahrah-e-Faisal, the M-9 Motorway, and Lyari Expressway — all of which have now reopened for traffic — several neighbourhoods remained submerged. According to a Motorway Police spokesperson, both routes were cleared of standing water, but peripheral localities still faced severe flooding.
Tragedy struck when four people drowned in the overflowing Gadap River. Rescue teams have so far recovered two bodies, including that of a woman, while search operations continue for the others.
The Lyari and Malir rivers swelled dangerously, flooding Saadi Garden and Saadi Town where streets, homes, and vehicles were submerged. Rising water from the Malir River also spilled onto the Korangi Causeway, while in the Federal B Area and Shafi Colony, floodwaters that had earlier entered homes began to recede.
Rescue 1122, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), and Pakistan Army units carried out overnight operations, evacuating more than 350 stranded residents from the worst-hit areas. Another body was recovered from the Gadap River during these efforts, raising the total recovered to two out of four victims.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited Malir 15, Qayyumabad, Korangi Causeway, and Shahrah-e-Bhutto to inspect drainage operations. During his visit to Saadi Town, he reassured residents that the situation was under control and urged institutions to expedite pumping efforts. He explained that floodwaters had entered the town from Lath and Thado dams via the motorway and cautioned critics against politicising the crisis.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took notice of the situation, directing the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to extend full support to the Sindh government and PDMA. Expressing sorrow over the Gadap drowning incident, he stressed that relief and rehabilitation of affected families must be given top priority.
Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab inspected Jameela and Lyari pumping stations, reviewing progress and instructing authorities to accelerate drainage work to mitigate future flooding.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the weather system over Sindh has now weakened into a low-pressure area west of Karachi. However, light to moderate rainfall is still expected in Karachi Division, Jamshoro, Thatta, and Sujawal. The PMD also warned that the Indus River at Guddu is likely to reach very high flood levels within 24 hours, while Sukkur is expected to hit high flood stage within 48 hours.
Between September 8 and 10, Surjani Town received the heaviest rainfall at 143.8 millimetres, followed by Gulshan-e-Maymar with 109.8mm, Gulshan-e-Hadeed and Korangi 92mm each, North Karachi 81.6mm, and DHA 74.5mm. Other major readings included Shahrah-e-Faisal with 64mm, Nazimabad 60.5mm, Saadi Town 60.2mm, University Road 58.8mm, Old Airport 58.3mm, Orangi 47.2mm, Mauripur 45mm, and Jinnah Terminal 38.6mm.
