Karachi records highest April rainfall in 41 years after heavy downpour

KARACHI: Karachi has recorded its highest April rainfall in 41 years after a strong rain spell brought 38.7 millimetres of rain to the city in 24 hours, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The PMD said the latest figure surpassed the previous April record of 37mm, which had been set on April 2, 1985. The weather system also caused a sharp drop in temperatures across the metropolis, giving the city unusually cool conditions for this time of year.

According to the Met Office, the minimum temperature recorded overnight was 16°C, which was 5.8°C below the normal average. Karachi usually experiences an average temperature of 21.8°C in April, but the recent weather spell made conditions significantly colder than usual.

Weather outlook and impact

In its latest forecast, the Met Office said the ongoing westerly wave was moving towards the southeast, though its effects were expected to continue in other parts of the country until April 4. For Karachi, the department forecast partly cloudy weather with light rain or drizzle, and said no further heavy rainfall was expected in the city on Friday.

The rain spell, which began on Thursday morning and continued intermittently through the night into Friday, created widespread disruption in several parts of Karachi. Low-lying areas remained inundated for hours, with Safoora Chowrangi and Hassan Square among the worst-affected locations.

Accumulated rainwater on major roads led to long traffic jams, leaving commuters stranded for extended periods. Electricity supply was also disrupted after multiple feeders tripped, causing outages in several neighbourhoods.

Deaths and injuries reported

The recent rains turned deadly, with the death toll reaching seven over two days. A person in Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block 7 reportedly died from electrocution during the rain.

On Thursday, five other deaths from electric shocks were reported in Surjani Town, PIB Colony and near MA Jinnah Road. In a separate incident in Old Golimar, a wall collapsed onto a rickshaw, killing the driver at the scene.

Another wall collapse in Orangi Town injured three children. Rescue teams responded and shifted the injured children to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Rainfall across Karachi and Sindh

The Met Office’s rainfall data showed Nazimabad received the highest amount of rain in the city, with 97.4mm. Other notable totals included Keamari with 76mm and Surjani Town with 67mm.

Significant rainfall was also recorded in DHA, Orangi Town and Jinnah Terminal, though no figures for those areas were specified in the report.

The weather system also affected other parts of Sindh. Mohenjo-Daro recorded 50mm of rain, while rainfall was also reported in Jacobabad, Dadu and Hyderabad.

The provincial government said it was taking measures to remove rainwater and restore traffic flow on major roads, while authorities remained alert as the weather system continued to move through the region.