Third monsoon spell hits Sindh, heavy rain in Karachi

The third monsoon spell began Thursday in Karachi after heavy rain with strong winds started in multiple areas of the city. In North Karachi, cars were stuck on the inundated roads and shops flooded with sewage when nullahs overflowed.

Showers were recorded in Shah Faisal Town, Malir, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, North Karachi, Shah Town, Shah Latif Town, Superhighway, Gadap, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Malir, Airport, Satellite Town, Landhi, Saadi Town, Model Colony, Bahria Town and surrounding areas.

The Met Department said moderate to heavy showers with lightning and strong winds are forecast in Karachi and neighbouring cities from September 23 to 25.

Nagan Chowrangi flooded

Rain has wreaked havoc in the northern neighbourhoods of Karachi.

The Nagan Chowrangi area has been flooded again. Dozens of cars were stuck on the flooded roads. The situation deteriorated after Shadman Town Nullah overflowed. Other drains also spilled flooding shops with sewage, SAMAA TV reported.

AC New Karachi is at Nagan Chawrangi, traffic is stuck there. We are trying to get the water level down, it shall take an hour or so to get things under control.

— Deputy Commissioner Karachi Central (@DCKhiCentral) September 23, 2021

The road leading from the 4K Chowrangi to the Two Minutes Chowrangi has also been inundated.

Several motorists have parked their cars at the Sakhi Hassan flyover to avoid the submerged roads. They would move only after the water is cleared, the TV said.

There is water everywhere from the Sakhi Hassan to Nagan Chowrangi.

Karachi floods because it’s half shaped like a bowl: expert

Other nearby areas have also face flooding from storm drains.

TV footages show people tugging their motorcycles in knee-deep water after the engines choked.

Post-rain flooding has become a common occurrence at Nagan Chowrangi. Experts have explored the reasons for flooding in and around Nagan Chowrangi and other parts of Karachi.

KARACHI RAIN UPDATE: @SAMAATV reporter Syed Khursheed Alam reports from knee-deep water at road from Sindhi Hotel to Allah Wali in North Karachipic.twitter.com/exDG9eeyZd

— Samaa English (@SamaaEnglish) September 23, 2021

SAMAA TV's Khurshid Alam, reporting live from New Karachi No. 5, said flooding was caused by an overflowing nullah and the floodwater had left people stranded.

The rain lasted for only a few minutes but the nullah has been overflowing for the past three hours though the government had proclaimed a so-called rain emergency, he said.

At some places, roads were covered with sludge after the rainwater subsided.

Since vehicles were unable to drive through flooded or sludge-covered roads, people of all ages had to walk for several miles.

Commuters stranded

Nagan Chowrangi and its surrounding areas were not the only places where vehicles have been stuck. Commuters returning from work to home were stranded on different roads including on the Shahrah-e-Faisal.

The Shahrah-e-Faisal track leading from the city centre to the Jinnah International Airport was choked developing long lines of cars.

The road was cleared after a few hours.

Other roads were also inundated. The patch between Liaquatabad and Teen Hatti, roads around the Guru Mandir, and streets in the old city area were submerged.

A Karachi University bus stuck at the KDA Chowrangi.

The Met has also warned of more urban flooding in the next few days.

How much rain poured down?

The northern part of the city has received the heaviest amount of rain. At Surjani 70mm of rain was recorded while Nazimabad received 18mm of rain, according to Met Department.

The rain gauges or udometers installed at the PAF Faisal base, old airport terminal and Jinnah International Airport recorded 36mm, 14.2mm and 10.2mm of rain, respectively.

University Road met complex recorded 5.2mm of rain.