Streets, houses, and major neighborhoods across Karachi were left submerged on Wednesday as the city faced a third consecutive day of relentless downpours.
Overflowing rivers and clogged drains added to the misery, forcing rescue teams to evacuate hundreds of residents trapped in flood-hit areas.
While water was successfully cleared from Shahrah-e-Faisal, M-9 Motorway, and Lyari Expressway — now reopened for traffic — many localities continued to suffer under waist-deep water. According to the Motorway Police, both key routes were declared safe for commuters after drainage work was completed.
Tragedy struck in Gadap, where at least four people drowned in the river. Rescue workers managed to recover two bodies, including that of a woman, while efforts to find the remaining victims are still underway.
The Lyari and Malir rivers rose to dangerous levels, flooding Saadi Garden and Saadi Town, where streets, vehicles, and entire neighborhoods went underwater. The Malir River overflowed onto the Korangi Causeway, while water from the Lyari River entered homes in Federal B Area and Shafi Colony before slowly beginning to recede.
Rescue 1122, PDMA, and Pakistan Army teams carried out overnight operations, shifting more than 350 residents to safer locations. Another victim was recovered from Gadap during the rescue drive, raising the death toll from the drowning incident to two confirmed recoveries.
Read More: Lyari and Malir rivers swell as Karachi records 129mm of rain; more downpours expected
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah personally visited Malir 15, Qayyumabad, Korangi Causeway, and Shahrah-e-Bhutto to review pumping operations and meet with distressed residents. He revealed that water from Lath and Thado dams had entered parts of Saadi Town through the motorway but assured that the situation was now under control. He also urged critics not to politicize the crisis.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the drowning incident and directed NDMA to extend full support to the Sindh government and PDMA. He emphasized that rehabilitation of flood-affected families must remain the top priority.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also inspected Jameela and Lyari pumping stations, ordering officials to speed up drainage work and improve the city’s flood management system.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the weather system over Sindh has weakened into a low-pressure zone, but light to moderate showers are still expected in Karachi Division, Jamshoro, Thatta, and Sujawal.
PMD also issued a flood warning, stating that the River Indus at Guddu is likely to reach very high flood levels within 24 hours, while Sukkur could hit the high flood stage within 48 hours.
Between September 8 and the morning of September 10, Surjani Town recorded the highest rainfall at 143.8 millimetres. Other affected areas include Gulshan-e-Maymar (109.8mm), Gulshan-e-Hadeed (92mm), Korangi (92mm), North Karachi (81.6mm), and DHA (74.5mm). Shahrah-e-Faisal logged 64mm, Nazimabad 60.5mm, and Saadi Town 60.2mm.
