City prepares for more rain following a deadly flood that took eight lives and hampered operations in Karachi.
Heavy Monsoon Rains Continue to Wreak Havoc in Karachi
The city of Karachi, Pakistan, is once again grappling with the aftermath of heavy monsoon rains, with the 2022 season proving to be particularly devastating.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that the monsoon season began on June 26, and since then, the city has faced repeated bouts of urban flooding. According to the latest reports, over 700 Pakistanis, including 175 children, have lost their lives in this year's monsoon season.
On Tuesday, heavy rainfall in Karachi resulted in the death of eight people, and the city is bracing for another spell of heavy rain today. The situation has prompted the local administration to declare a public holiday due to the threat of urban flooding.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab stated that most major roads have been cleared by morning, but the city's dilapidated infrastructure often experiences flooding even from moderate rains, posing threats to residents' lives and causing hours-long power outages.
Wahab criticized several civic agencies for collecting revenue but not being present on the ground during times of need. He mentioned that the flooding in Karachi is due to unusually heavy downpours, beyond the city's drainage system's capacity (40mm of water).
The current monsoon season has raised fears of a repeat of the 2022 floods that submerged a third of Pakistan and caused over 1,700 deaths. The economic losses due to the 2022 floods were estimated to be $30 billion.
In August 2020, record-breaking rainfall in Karachi caused more than 40 deaths, and in August 2017, torrential downpours left 23 dead and paralyzed large parts of the city. The airport area in Karachi, which was the worst affected by the rain, now has a motorable road.
As of 2025, the financial aid for reconstruction in Karachi after the 2022 rain-related damages has seen partial disbursement from both government and international sources, but full funding and reconstruction efforts are still ongoing.
The intense monsoon season has already caused significant damage, particularly in the country's north. Wahab urged residents to stay indoors due to the potential for roads to be submerged again if heavy rain returns.
Despite the challenges, the resilient citizens of Karachi continue to persevere, hoping for a brighter and drier future.
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