Residents of Karachi experienced a refreshing Sunday morning as the city received light rainfall in the early hours, following several days of overcast skies.
Light showers were reported across various parts of the metropolis, including areas near the airport, Malir, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Shah Faisal, North Karachi, New Karachi, Surjani Town, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, I.I. Chundrigar Road, PIDC, Saddar, and Burns Road.
The highest rainfall recorded was 2.3 millimeters on University Road, with 2mm at the airport, PAF Base Faisal, and Gulshan-e-Hadeed. Korangi and Jinnah Terminal registered 1.4mm of downpour, while Keamari and Surjani Town received a mere 0.2mm.
This rainfall aligns with the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) forecast for moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms in Karachi, where temperatures are expected to range between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius. The Met Office also indicated that another monsoon system might impact Sindh in late July.
Notably, a day prior, the Sindh government had canceled local government holidays and activated emergency response measures in anticipation of the expected monsoon rains in Karachi. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon stated that holiday cancellations and arrangements were made to ensure immediate drainage of rainwater in vulnerable city areas.
According to meteorologists, the rain-bearing weather system was positioned over southwestern Uttar Pradesh, India, and was moving towards Rajasthan. Analysts believed the system could start affecting parts of Sindh, including Karachi, by Friday night or later that evening. Should the system continue its westward movement, it could bring heavy rainfall to various districts of Sindh. However, for now, moderate rain is forecasted for Karachi. Meteorologists are closely monitoring the system’s trajectory and its potential effects on southern Pakistan in the coming days.
Beyond Karachi, Pakistan is collectively experiencing monsoon rains, with showers causing significant disruption in various regions. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), at least 202 people, including 96 children, have been killed in various incidents nationwide due to these rains.
Official data paints a grim picture: Punjab accounts for 123 of the total deaths, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 40 deaths, Sindh 21, Balochistan 16, and Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir reported one fatality each. The causes of death varied widely, with at least 118 fatalities attributed to house collapses, 30 to flash floods, and others due to drowning, lightning strikes, electrocution, and landslides. The monsoon rains have also resulted in over 560 injuries, including 182 children.
