Torrential monsoon rains have paralyzed Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, killing 11 people and injuring 10 others in rain-related incidents as streets transformed into raging waterways. Local authorities confirmed Wednesday that collapsed roofs, electrocutions, and drowning incidents contributed to the casualties.
Neighborhoods like Gulshan-e-Hadeed and Surjani Town saw waist-deep flooding, stranding residents and damaging infrastructure. The city's Jinnah International Airport suspended multiple flights due to submerged runways, while prolonged power outages affected over 40% of households.
"Our rescue teams are working round-the-clock with boats and emergency supplies," said Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, noting that drainage systems failed to handle 207 mm of rainfall – the highest single-day total in five years.
Meteorologists warn the current weather system may persist through Friday, exacerbating challenges for the coastal metropolis of 20 million. Urban planners highlight Karachi's outdated drainage infrastructure as a recurring vulnerability during monsoon seasons.
The crisis renews debates about climate adaptation in South Asian cities, with Karachi's population density and informal settlements amplifying disaster risks. Similar patterns of extreme rainfall have been reported this month across India's Maharashtra state and Bangladesh's Chittagong division.
