Heavy rains once again brought Karachi to a standstill on Tuesday. After three spells of torrential downpour, major roads in the city were left submerged, forcing commuters to abandon their vehicles in floodwater.
Dozens of cars and motorcycles broke down across the city, particularly along the stretch from National Stadium to Civic Center. Many people had no choice but to leave their vehicles behind due to fuel shortages or mechanical issues and walk home.
Thousands of commuters returning from offices were stranded for hours beside their stalled bikes and cars. Mechanics faced overwhelming demand, charging high fees for roadside repairs. Hospitals were also affected, with Jinnah Hospital reporting that patients discharged from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) could not leave for home due to flooded roads. Some patients remained stranded at the hospital late into the night.
Several key areas of Karachi, including Guru Mandir, M.A. Jinnah Road, and Shahrah-e-Faisal, remain waterlogged. The premises around the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry are still submerged, while water continues to accumulate near the State Bank, Tower, and Shaheen Complex on I.I. Chundrigar Road. The large number of abandoned vehicles is further blocking traffic flow in these areas.
The Sindh government announced a public holiday in Karachi today to avoid further chaos. The Pakistan Meteorological Department also warned of more heavy rains. According to the DG Met, the city witnessed extraordinary rainfall in the last 24 hours. He added that early alerts had been issued about the intensity of the spell. He cautioned that without proper drainage, even lighter showers could cause serious urban flooding.
The situation highlights long-standing challenges in Karachi’s drainage and infrastructure systems. Residents fear that continued rainfall may worsen conditions if urgent measures are not taken.
For more on how services have normalized, see how Internet services were restored across Pakistan after rains.
