The first spell of the monsoon has wreaked havoc in Karachi, exposing the fragile infrastructure of the city’s power supply, drainage, and traffic management systems.

Days after heavy downpours soaked the metropolis, much of the city continues to reel under widespread power outages, submerged roads, and hours-long traffic jams.

More than 350 K-Electric feeders remain non-functional on the third consecutive day since the rainfall began, leaving several areas of Karachi without electricity. On the first day of the downpour, around 600 feeders had tripped, followed by 240 on the second day, underscoring the utility's inability to cope with monsoon challenges.

Despite the rain stopping in many parts of the city, K-Electric has yet to restore several affected feeders, leaving residents to suffer through prolonged blackouts and sweltering humidity.

Rainfall stats

According to the Meteorological Department, rainfall figures recorded across the city varied significantly:

Surjani Town: 58mm
Saadi Town: 47mm
Gulshan-e-Hadeed & Gulshan-e-Maymar: 37mm
Shahrah-e-Faisal / PAF Base Faisal: 31mm
North Karachi/Airport Vicinity: 29mm
Korangi: 25mm
University Road: 24mm
Nazimabad: 20mm
Super Highway: 6mm

Flooded roads, stalled traffic

The situation worsened as key arteries and residential neighbourhoods remained submerged in knee-deep water. MA Jinnah Road, Saddar Mobile Market, and areas around Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Old City, and Defence were badly waterlogged. Water even entered shops and homes in low-lying areas, forcing shopkeepers and residents to scramble for protection of their belongings.

Traffic congestion brought the city to a grinding halt. Long queues were reported across major roads including:

Shahrah-e-Faisal
MA Jinnah Road
Maripur Road
Korangi Industrial Area
Nursery
Karsaz
Safoora Chowrangi
University Road
National Highway
Super Highway

With construction work ongoing on University Road, the already dire traffic conditions were exacerbated.

Citizens complained they had to push motorcycles, and vehicles broke down in flooded streets. Commutes that normally took minutes stretched into hours, with no visible assistance from civic bodies.

NDMA and Met Office warning of urban flooding

The Meteorological Department has warned of continued rainfall over the next two days, raising fears of urban flooding in vulnerable areas. The NDMA has urged local authorities to remain on high alert, warning that continued rainfall could further cripple already overwhelmed drainage systems.

Meanwhile, the absence of city administration during and after the rainfall has sparked public outrage, as citizens remain stranded in flooded neighbourhoods and gridlocked streets.