At least 19 dead as heavy rain, thunderstorm hit Karachi
· Geo News- Met department predicts rainfall till Thursday.
- Mayor urges people to avoid unnecessary movement.
- PMD records wind speeds of 90km/h on Sharea Faisal.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of a deadly building collapse in Mawachh Goth, as the death toll from rain-related incidents across the city rose to at least 19, according to rescue officials.
Authorities said several people were killed when walls and roofs collapsed during heavy rain and thunderstorms, accompanied by strong winds, which swept across parts of the megacity on Wednesday night.
In Baldia Town’s Mawachh Goth area, rescuers have so far recovered bodies of 13 people from the rubble of the collapsed building, as search operations are still underway for more victims believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
A spokesperson for rescue services said initial reports suggested that the victims had gathered inside the structure to seek shelter from the rain, adding that most of the deceased were drug addicts.
The chief minister directed the district administration and emergency services to take immediate action, stressing that all available resources should be utilised to expedite rescue operations.
Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited the affected site in Mawachh Goth, where officials oversaw ongoing rescue efforts. Lanjar ordered that every possible measure be taken to pull survivors from the debris, while Wahab instructed that the injured be provided with prompt medical care.
Separately, a wall collapse in Landhi’s Majeed Colony killed two people, including a woman, while three people sustained injuries.
Another person lost his life after being struck by lightning in yet another incident near Yaru Goth in Malir River.
A woman was also killed when the roof of her house collapsed in Korangi’s Sector 3½, while another man lost his life after a tree fell on him in Korangi No 5.
Rescue authorities said at least seven people were injured in various rain-related incidents across the city.
Rain situation
Showers were recorded in several localities, including Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulzar-e-Hijri, North Karachi, Surjani Town and North Nazimabad.
Rain was also reported in Saddar, Tower, Sharea Faisal, II Chundrigar Road, Federal B Area, Hassan Square, Manghopir, SITE area, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Defence and Clifton.
Heavy downpour was also reported at Karachi airport, Model Town and various areas of Malir.
The PMD said strong winds accompanied the rainfall, with wind speeds reaching 90 kilometres per hour on Sharea Faisal and 97 kilometres per hour in Mauripur.
According to the weather department, Korangi recorded the highest rainfall at 55.6 millimetres. As of 11pm, Mauripur received 22 millimetres, while DHA Phase-II received 15mm.
Other areas report lighter rainfall, including Gulistan-e-Jauhar with 13mm, Kemari 12mm, Airport Old Area 9mm, Sharea Faisal 9mm, Saddar Town 9mm, and Jinnah Terminal 8mm.
Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said the city was witnessing significant rainfall accompanied by strong winds.
“Would request people to avoid unnecessary movement until the situation settles. Will keep everyone posted,” he said in a statement on X.
In another post later on, the mayor said: "Several trees had fallen due to heavy gusts of wind”. He urged citizens to avoid using Club Road in front of Karachi Gymkhana.
Met Office predicts rainfall till Thursday
Earlier in the day, the weather department forecast that rain and thunderstorms with strong winds, along with isolated hailstorms, are likely to affect Karachi and other parts of Sindh on Wednesday and Thursday, as a westerly wave moves into the country’s western regions.
Under the influence of this weather system, the PMD said that rain and thunderstorms with strong winds, isolated hail, and occasional moderate to heavy showers are expected in Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Nosheroferoz, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu districts, and across the Karachi division.
Rain/thunderstorm with strong winds” were also likely in Larkana, Qambar Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Ghotki and Sukkur districts today and tomorrow with occasional gaps,” it added.
“Lightning strikes may occur at isolated places during the forecast period,” the PMD warned, advising farmers to manage their crops “according to the prevailing weather conditions”.