Incessant rains trigger flood havoc in city

A sudden rise in water levels in the Lyari and Malir rivers flooded surrounding neighbourhoods, forcing many residents to evacuate their homes. Scores of families have temporarily relocated, while those who stayed behind are trying on their own to drain floodwater from their houses. Household belongings have been damaged, and the absence of relief camps has compounded the residents' hardships.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), rainfall has caused widespread flooding in settlements along both streams. Karachi Bachao Tehreek member Laila Raza said more than 35 localities were inundated, leaving hundreds of homes waterlogged and possessions destroyed. She added that residents are still attempting self-help measures to clear their houses, but no official shelters or relief centres have been set up.

Rescue agencies, aided by the Pakistan Army, Navy, Rangers, and 1122, managed to shift many families to safer locations. Yet, people in affected areas continue to face food shortages, lack of sanitation facilities, and the risk of malaria and other diseases due to filth and stench from stagnant water. Women and children are among the worst affected, with no proper access to toilets or drinking water.

Residents described last night as a "night of horror." Perveen Khatoon of Essa Nagri said, "the floodwater entered our homes suddenly. Some people were asleep, others awake, and panic broke out. Families fled in fear, some leaving behind all they had."

In Malir and Gadap's outlying areas, torrential rain triggered gushing hill torrents that filled Thaddo Dam and other reservoirs, overflowing into nearby villages. Many families spent the night on rooftops while others relocated temporarily to relatives' houses.

People from Machhar Colony, Gujjar Nullah, and other low-lying areas reported widespread destruction. "We earn daily to survive. Now either we remove water from our homes or go out to work," said Manzoora Begum, a resident of Machhar Colony, lamenting the government's inaction.

Urban planner Muhammad Tauheed explained that Karachi has two major rivers, Lyari and Malir, and over 500 small drains feeding into them. With continuous rainfall, both rivers swelled, inundating nearby settlements.

Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed confirmed that water had entered surrounding populations due to the flooding of Lyari and Malir rivers. She said evacuations were carried out and the situation is now "under control," with relief efforts underway by the Sindh government, KMC, local bodies, PDMA, Rangers, and armed forces. She added that with rainfall receding, water levels in the streams are gradually decreasing.