By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: A powerful storm accompanied by heavy rain in Karachi has caused widespread destruction, killing at least 20 people and injuring several others as trees, walls and rooftops collapsed in different parts of the city. The severe weather triggered multiple accidents across Karachi, leaving several areas without electricity.
In Baldia’s Madina Colony, 13 people died after a wall collapsed, while in Qaimabad’s Majid Colony a wall collapse injured a husband, wife and their daughter. In Surjani Town, the roof of an under-construction building collapsed, injuring one person, and in Machhar Colony a house roof also gave way.
Strong winds uprooted trees and damaged infrastructure in multiple areas. A tree fell near a police camp in Anarkali Market, trapping personnel who were later rescued. Wind speeds reached 97 km/h in Mauripur and 90 km/h on Shahrah-e-Faisal, according to the Meteorology Department. The storm caused more than 800 K-Electric feeders to trip, plunging many areas into darkness, including North Karachi, Clifton, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Saddar and other localities.
Lightning strikes and collapsing structures added to the toll, with one person killed in Shah Latif near a lightning strike and several others injured in different incidents. Rescue operations continued in areas such as Baldia Moach Goth, where multiple deaths were reported after a wall collapse, and fears remained that more people could be trapped under debris.
The Sindh Chief Minister ordered all authorities to remain on high alert and directed municipal bodies to prioritise drainage and rescue operations, warning that negligence would not be tolerated. The Minister for Local Government also cancelled all staff holidays and ordered immediate drainage work across markets and low-lying areas.
The Meteorology Department said no further rain was expected during the night, but showers could resume after tomorrow afternoon, with chances of heavy rain, thunderstorms and hail in some places. Light rain is also expected on the first day of Eid, while another weather system from March 24 to 27 could bring more rainfall to Karachi and Sindh.
#KarachiStorm #RainDisaster #BreakingNews #WeatherAlert #PakistanNews
