Karachi Declares Public Holiday as Record Monsoon Rains Paralyze City

Staff Reporter

KARACHI (August 19) — Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced a public holiday in Karachi on Tuesday, August 20, after record-breaking monsoon rains left large parts of the city submerged, claimed at least eight lives—including four children and one woman—and severely disrupted traffic and services.

Chairing an emergency meeting at the CM House, Shah said the holiday was declared to minimize public hardship and urged citizens to stay indoors as further heavy rainfall is expected. The meeting included provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, Makhdoom Mehboob-uz-Zaman, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.

Record Rainfall in 12 Hours

Officials briefed the CM that Karachi received 145 millimeters of rain in just 12 hours, the highest in recent years. The downpour submerged key roads and disrupted traffic. However, drainage operations are underway, and many of the major roads have now been partially cleared.

CM’s Citywide Inspection

CM Shah personally visited Shahrah-e-Faisal to inspect drainage work. Authorities reported that most of the water had been cleared, though debris and stalled vehicles remained. He instructed police to safeguard stranded vehicles and ordered traffic police to remove broken-down cars immediately to restore flow.

At Stadium Road, Shah expressed satisfaction that rainwater had been fully drained. He also inspected Hassan Square and instructed immediate drainage around the National Coaching Center. At the Old Sabzi Mandi, Shah ordered the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board to deploy machinery for urgent water removal. He also reviewed conditions at New Town, Kashmir Road, Empress Market, Saddar, and Zaib-un-Nisa Street, directing civic agencies to speed up drainage and public assistance.

Local Insight: Mayor’s Real-Time Update

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab shared a real-time update from the field on X, stating: “I’m at the Nursery drain and one can see that it is taking water well. Water level is coming down in the surrounding area now…” — highlighting the ongoing drainage progress firsthand.