City on Alert After Fatal Night of Thunderstorms and Gale-Force Winds
Karachi is bracing for further heavy rainfall today after a powerful thunderstorm accompanied by gale-force winds lashed the port city overnight, killing at least 19 people and causing widespread damage. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that clouds over the sea may move towards the city, bringing one to two additional spells of heavy rain, with up to 50mm of rainfall expected alongside thunderstorms.
Casualties and Collapses Amid Torrential Downpour
The severe weather, which began late Wednesday, led to multiple fatalities from collapsing structures. In the most tragic incident, rescuers recovered 13 bodies from the rubble of a collapsed building in Baldia Town’s Mawachh Goth area, with search operations continuing for more victims. Separate wall collapses in Landhi and Korangi claimed additional lives, while one person was killed by a lightning strike near the Malir River. At least seven people were injured in various rain-related incidents across the city.
Infrastructure Damage and Prolonged Power Outages
The storm brought wind speeds reaching 97 kilometres per hour in some areas, uprooting trees and causing billboards to collapse. Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab urged residents to stay indoors, warning of fallen trees due to heavy gusts. Prolonged power outages have been reported, particularly in Buffer Zone, where electricity has been suspended since 9 pm Wednesday. K-Electric stated that power supply remains active on most feeders, with approximately 260 still affected by the rain.
Weather Forecast and Regional Impact
The PMD reported that Karachi recorded a maximum of 55.6mm of rainfall in Korangi. While wind speeds are expected to be lower today, the department forecasts moderate to heavy rain in different areas, with a maximum temperature ranging between 27°C and 29°C. The weather system is also likely to affect other parts of Sindh, including Hyderabad, Thatta, and Mirpurkhas, with rain, thunderstorms, and isolated hailstorms predicted. Another spell of westerly winds from March 24 to 27 may bring further rain to the region.
