• Met Office says weather system will bring more rain before moving towards Balochistan
• Water on M-9 motorway as Thado Dam overflows
• Weatherman terms development of deep depression during September unusual

KARACHI: Three people were killed as light to moderate showers continued throughout the day, flooding roads and streets and causing traffic jams across the metropolis on Tuesday.

The weather system that caused rains in the metropolis and other parts of Sindh reached Karachi on Tuesday. In a late-night development, the water level increased in Thado Dam on the city outskirts and overflowed onto the M-9 motorway. Officials said that the government has decided to demolish the wall between the two tracks of the motorway to make way for water drainage.

Met Department’s focal person Anjum Niaz Zaigham told Dawn that the deep depression over Sindh would gradually move towards Balochistan and reduce into a well-marked low pressure area on Tuesday night. “During this process, intermittent rains are expected over the next two days, especially in the first half of [Wednesday] in Karachi.”

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s data released at 9pm on Tuesday, the maximum rain was recorded in Gulshan-i-Maymar 37.3mm, or 1.46 inches, North Karachi 29mm, Korangi 23.6mm, Saadi Town 18.1mm. Nazimabad 21mm, PAF Base Faisal, PAF Base Masroor and Gulshan-i-Hadeed 15mm, Keamari 14mm, Old Airport area 13mm, Met Office (University Road) 10.2mm, Bahria Town 10.5mm and Jinnah Terminal 8.8mm.

According to Mr Zaigham, while the province has been seeing rains in the month of September, as happened in 2010 and 2011, the development of a deep depression this time of the year is unusual.

“Perhaps, it has happened for the first time. This system has reached Sindh after crossing South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and India, during which it continued to change its forms, losing and gaining strength from the sea surface and atmospheric conditions,” he added.

Two teenagers electrocuted

Two teenage boys died from electrocution in Sohrab Goth and North Karachi areas.

Sohrab Goth SHO Mumtaz Marwat told Dawn that Waseem Noor, 17, died when he suffered an electric shock at a water filter plant in Ayub Goth.

Khawaja Ajmer Nagri SHO Sarfraz Commando said that 18-year old Mustaqeem Saeed died of an electric shock inside his home in Rasheedabad.

Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed told Dawn that bodies of the two teenagers were brought to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and both of them died of electrocution.

A K-Electric spokesperson, however, claimed that power utility’s infrastructure was not involved in both cases of electrocution.

A young man, identified as Ali Gul Mithani, drowned in the Malir river on Tuesday evening, according to officials.

Fragile drainage infrastructure

As usual, the rain brought with it familiar urban challenges that exposed the city’s fragile drainage infrastructure. Despite continuous efforts by civic bodies, the city’s outdated drainage systems struggled to cope, especially in low-lying areas.

Traffic moved at a snail’s pace on major thoroughfares including Sharae Faisal, I.I. Chundrigar Road and M.A. Jinnah Road due to accumulated rainwater. On other arteries, motorists were forced to wade through waterlogged roads, while many motorcyclists lost balance on slippery patches.

Areas managed by cantonment boards and town administrations fared no better. Several neighbourhoods under their administrative control witnessed the similar drainage failures, indicating a broader systemic issue.

University Road, already under immense strain due to the ongoing construction of the Red Line project, turned into a muddy, congested nightmare.

Commuters, especially those using public transport, suffered long delays and unsafe travel conditions. Damaged road surfaces and uneven detours further worsened the experience.

CS, mayor inspect drainage work

Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited several parts of the city and issued directives for immediate repair of a damaged sewerage line in Safoora Town.

“Visited different parts of the city to oversee the situation,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Teams were present at all important arteries to attend to any situation. Also visited the area of Pehalwan Goth where the 53 inch trunk sewer had gotten sunk. Work was ongoing and we are hopeful to complete the replacement in the next 24 hours. Teams were working even during the rain.”

Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah also visited several parts of the city to review drainage and traffic arrangements and issued further directions to ensure maximum facilitation for citizens.

He visited Tower, Sharea Faisal, I.I. Chundrigar Road, M.A. Jinnah Road, Metropole and other major thoroughfares, where he inspected the situation and appreciated the timely response of the field officers.

Recalling the challenges faced during the previous spell of rains, he emphasised that this time traffic police are actively providing real-time information to citizens through FM 88.6 and social media platforms, enabling people to choose safe alternative routes and avoid inconvenience.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2025