Urban flooding paralyses Karachi: Schools shut, more rain predicted

Army called for rescue operations as streets turned into rivers: Water from Malir and Lyari streams enters residential areas: Surjani Town, PIB Colony, Essa Nagri, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Korangi, Sohrab Goth submerged: Water level in Thado Dam rises: Superhighway to Hyderabad closed: Four-storey building tilts: Pak Navy and Edhi teams rescue stranded people on boats: Mayor spends night on streets: Hospitals flooded: Two bodies recovered from flood-hit Gaddap Town area: CM Murad visits city: 

Published: 08:37 AM, 10 Sep, 2025
Topics, Environment
Urban flooding paralyses Karachi: Schools shut, more rain predicted

Karachi is battling a severe urban flooding crisis following heavy rainfall, with overflowing rivers and rising water levels creating chaos in multiple neighbourhoods, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Wednesday. In the wake of this emergency, the water from the raging Malir and Lyari streams breached barriers and surged into residential areas, forcing evacuations and triggering urgent calls for assistance. Responding to a request from the Sindh Chief Secretary, the Pakistan Army has been deployed to aid in rescue and relief operations across affected zones.

Met office releases the rainfall recorded in different areas of Karachi on Wednesday. According to the report, the highest rainfall of 31.5 mm was recorded in DHA, 5 mm of rain was recorded in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, 11.8 mm in Orangi Town, 10 mm recorded in University road, 16.9 mm in Gulshan-e-Maymar, 9.4 mm in Old Airport area and 4.4 mm recorded in the Jinnah Terminal.

According to the department, the rainfall of 9 mm was recorded in Shahrah-e-Faisal, 12.4 mm in North Karachi, 17 mm in Kiamari, 5 mm in Nazimabad. While it was recorded 17.4 mm in Korangi, 7.7 mm in Saadi Town, 19 mm in PAF Masroor Base, 3 mm in Bahria Town and 13 mm rainfall was recorded in Surjani Town. 

Additionally, Rangers personnel have also joined efforts on the ground, working tirelessly to rescue stranded citizens.

In light of the flooding, authorities have announced a closure of all educational institutions across Karachi for the day to ensure student safety and reduce traffic hazards on inundated roads.

Neighbourhoods including Malir, Surjani, PIB Colony, Essa Nagri, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Korangi Causeway, Nishtar Basti, Shafiq Colony, and Sohrab Goth have been severely submerged. Dozens of vehicles and motorbikes were reported stuck or swept away by the strong currents.

Meanwhile, the water level in the Thado Dam has risen dangerously high, with floodwaters reaching the M-9 Motorway and eventually spilling into residential areas of Scheme 33. As a result, areas like Saadi Town and its surrounding communities have been engulfed, trapping numerous residents inside their homes.

Rescue teams, utilising boats, managed to safely evacuate 12 individuals, including 9 children, from Shahbaz Goth along the Super Highway, relocating them to safer ground as part of an ongoing operation.

Army personnel are continuously engaged in drainage and evacuation of people from the affected areas. Stranded citizens from Motorway M-9, Saima and Saadi Town were also safely evacuated. 

Also Read: PM Shehbaz takes notice of urban flooding in Karachi

The affected people expressed their gratitude for the timely relief operation of the Pakistan Army. As per the channel report, the military rescue teams will remain present among the people until the rain stops and the situation returns to normal.

Weather reports warn that more torrential rainfall is expected in Karachi today, prompting concerns of further flooding and damage in the already affected areas.

Ongoing rainfall in Karachi has caused widespread urban flooding, including in and around several major hospitals. Rainwater inundated both hospital interiors and outdoor areas, severely disrupting patient care. The crisis was further compounded by an acute shortage of medical staff across multiple facilities.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited several rain-hit areas of Karachi, including Qayyumabad and Korangi Causeway. He personally reviewed the drainage efforts and directed officials to expedite water clearance operations to mitigate public suffering.

In central Karachi, areas such as Pan Mandi, Kazmi Chowk, and nearby roads transformed into large water bodies, with streets resembling lakes. 

Meanwhile, a tragic incident occurred yesterday on the Superhighway in the Gaddap Town area, where a high-roof van plunged into the swollen Kong River. Among the more than four individuals swept away by the flood, the bodies of two victims were recovered by Edhi Marine Services after an intense rescue operation. The deceased were identified as 45-year-old Javed Shah, son of Muhammad Habib Shah, and 60-year-old Nabu, wife of Gulab.

Reporters: Shayan Ali, Zubair Rashid, Aqsa Sheikh, Daray Shahwar, Rimsha Ismail, Farhan Yameen, Ahmed Mansoor, Ibrahim Rand, Kawish Memon, Aqsa Sheikh, Rizwan Ahmed, Miraj Akhtar, Jawad Asif, and Baseem Iftikhar

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News Desk