Karachi shatters 41-year-old rain record as heavy downpour chills city

Karachi – (Web Desk) – Karachi has just experienced its heaviest April rain in over four decades. The city received 38.7mm of rainfall within a single day, beating the old record of 37mm that was set way back on April 2, 1985. That is a record that had stood for 41 years.

The heavy rain brought an unexpected cold wave with it. Temperatures dropped sharply overnight, with the lowest point hitting just 16°C. That is nearly 6 degrees colder than what Karachi normally feels like in April. People who are used to warm spring weather suddenly found themselves reaching for sweaters and blankets.

As for what comes next, the weather system responsible for all this rain is gradually moving away toward the southeast. Its effects will still be felt in other parts of Pakistan until April 4, but Karachi itself should get a bit of a break. Today the city can expect cloudy skies with perhaps a light drizzle, but no more heavy downpours are on the way.

Sadly, the rain also brought tragedy. Seven people have lost their lives over the past two days as a direct result of this weather. Among them was a resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar who was fatally electrocuted during the storm.

It has been a dramatic and historic couple of days for the city, one that residents will likely remember for years to come.

Besides the latest casualty, several other tragic incidents were also reported on Thursday, with five deaths from electric shocks in areas like Surjani Town, PIB Colony, and near MA Jinnah Road.

In Old Golimar, a wall collapsed onto a rickshaw, killing the driver on the spot. Another wall collapse in Orangi Town left three children injured. Rescue teams reached the scene quickly and moved the children to a nearby hospital for medical help.

The heavy rain that started on Thursday morning and continued overnight into Friday in intermittent spells caused major problems for residents. Many low-lying areas were flooded and couldn’t be cleared for hours. Safoora Chowrangi and Hassan Square were the worst hit.

Water on the main roads left commuters stuck in long traffic jams for hours. Power supply was also hit hard, as many electricity feeders tripped, leaving several neighborhoods in the dark.

The Met Office shared rainfall data from across the city, showing that Nazimabad was the wettest area with 97.4mm of rain.

Other high totals included Surjani Town with 67mm, Keamari with 76mm,

Other areas like DHA, Orangi Town, and Jinnah Terminal also saw significant rainfall.

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The downpour was not limited to Karachi. Other parts of the province also saw heavy falls, including Mohenjo-Daro, which recorded 50mm of rain. Jacobabad, Dadu, and Hyderabad also reported rainfall.

The provincial government said it is taking steps to drain the rainwater and restore the flow of traffic on busy roads. While the rain has provided a rare refresh for the city, authorities remain on alert as the weather system continues to pass through the region.