KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has sounded a high alert for Karachi and other districts of Sindh amid a fresh spell of the monsoon season, warning of urban flooding and severe weather impacts.
According to the PMD, a low-pressure system originating from India has intensified into a depression, triggering heavy rainfall across Karachi and several districts of Sindh. Meteorologists forecast that from September 11, districts including Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Khairpur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, and Matiari are likely to experience strong winds and intermittent heavy showers. Rainfall is also expected in Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal, Jamshoro, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Sukkur, Jacobabad, and Ghotki.
Weather experts have warned that the continuing rains may lead to water accumulation in low-lying areas of Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal, and Hyderabad. There is also a significant risk of urban flooding in Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Khairpur, Sukkur, and Larkana.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, addressing a press conference at the Flood Monitoring Cell in Karachi, said that the provincial government is preparing for potential floods with contingency planning based on water flows of up to 800,000 cusecs. He said the ongoing monsoon rains have already triggered flood-like conditions in several areas.
“A flood surge of up to 700,000 cusecs is expected at Panjnad, while 217,000 cusecs of water is anticipated to enter the Indus River from Taunsa,” Shah explained, adding that the peak water level at Guddu Barrage is expected on September 9. “Many residents of the affected districts have already evacuated, and we are ensuring full relief efforts for flood victims.”
The chief minister said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari are constantly monitoring the situation. He further said that Karachi has already received more rainfall than expected this year, but “all departments and ministers are active, and the government is fully prepared for further rains.”
Meanwhile, India on Sunday formally informed Pakistan about the risk of high-level flooding in the Sutlej River after releasing additional water. The communique, sent through diplomatic channels, warned of a flood threat at Harike and Ferozepur. Following this, Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources issued warning letters to 28 relevant departments, alerting them to the potential flood situation.
Earlier, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) had also expressed concern that with the new spell of rains, India could discharge even more water into Pakistani rivers, compounding the risk of floods.
The PMD, which had first issued an advisory, later upgraded it to a formal warning as the depression over Rajasthan intensified further. It forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday in Karachi and other parts of Sindh, accompanied by strong winds. Meteorologists cautioned that low-lying areas could experience severe flooding, while poorly built structures such as rooftops, boundary walls, electric poles, and mud houses remain vulnerable to damage.
On Sunday, parts of Karachi’s outskirts, including Super Highway, Scheme 33, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Bahria Town, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, and Kathore, received scattered moderate to heavy showers. Overcast skies were reported in most parts of the city throughout the day, with dark clouds preceding the rainfall.
Sindh Senior Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, said the government stands with flood-affected people and is providing all possible relief. He said that district administrations, cabinet members, provincial and national assembly representatives, and designated focal persons are personally monitoring relief activities in the field.
Memon disclosed that 133,887 people have so far been shifted to safer places from 167 union councils in 15 districts of Sindh, with another 5,830 evacuated in the last 24 hours. He added that 45,146 victims have received medical care at 158 fixed and mobile health camps set up by the provincial government, including 5,570 people treated in the past 24 hours alone.
