Karachi is bracing for a third consecutive day of torrential rain as meteorologists warned of more heavy downpours on Thursday, raising fears of urban flooding in several parts of the city. The death toll from rain-related accidents in Karachi has climbed to 17 over the past 48 hours. Following the deteriorating situation, all public and private schools and colleges in Karachi remained closed on Thursday.

Education institutes closed, exams suspended: Due to the weather prediction of more rain in the port city, all public and private schools, colleges, and universities in Karachi remained closed today. Major universities, including NED Engineering University and Dow University, also suspended classes. Dow University and the Sindh Board of Technical Education postponed all scheduled examinations, with new dates to be announced later.

The death toll from rain-related accidents in Karachi has climbed to 17 over the past two days. According to police, the body of a 70-year-old disabled man was recovered from a flooded house in PECHS, where he reportedly slipped from his bed into stagnant water. A youth drowned in a rainwater pond near the Northern Bypass, while another man died after falling into a ditch along the Super Highway.

Two more bodies were recovered from storm drains in New Karachi’s Khameso Goth and Gurumandir. In another tragic incident, the collapse of a wall in Gulistan-e-Johar killed three children and two women. Separately, a young girl died when a wall collapsed in Orangi Town. Electrocution also proved deadly, claiming six lives across Shah Faisal Colony, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Defence, North Karachi, and Gizri.

Sources confirmed that electricity supply remained suspended in many areas, as over 100 feeders were out of order. Yesterday, 24NewsHD reported that torrential downpours had severely affected areas including Shahrah-e-Faisal, PECHS, Saddar, Shah Faisal, Sindhi Muslim Society, Bizerta Lines, Tariq Road, Frere Hall, Jinnah Hospital, Gulistan-e-Johar, and the airport vicinity.

Rainwater quickly accumulated on major roads, paralysing traffic and leaving many commuters stranded. The Nazimabad Underpass was submerged, while countless citizens were forced to abandon their vehicles and return home on foot.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)