August rains shatter Karachi records

Torrential rain lashed the Pakistani financial capital of Karachi on Thursday, causing widespread flooding, as downpours in August shattered 89-year-old records for the city, meteorological officials said.

Thursday marked the third day of heavy rain this week, during which at least 23 people have died, according to media, while residents have been forced to abandon their homes.

Provincial authorities were moving displaced families into school buildings, as the military carried out rescue and relief operations.

“It has never rained so much in the month of August, according to our data,” the country’s chief meteorological officer, Sardar Sarfaraz, told Reuters, adding that the data went back to 1931, 16 years before Pakistan gained independence from Britain.

Some 484 mm (19 inches) of rain had fallen this month, 130 mm on Thursday alone, he said.

Abdul Razak Dawood, adviser to Prime Minister Imran Khan on commerce, feared the rain would hit exports.

“Our exports consignments are being delayed and hence our exports for the month of August may be affected,” Dawood said on Twitter.

More rain predicted

Chief Meteorological Officer (CMO) of Pakistan Meteorological Department Sardar Sarfraz predicted more showers today, saying moderate spells of rain were possible in the city by the afternoon.

The PMD official said that Karachi had received unprecedented heavy rain due to the interaction of a monsoonal system in Sindh and a westerly wave from Balochistan on Thursday.

“In 15 hours from Thursday morning till night, over 230 mm of rain was recorded which was never observed ever before in such a short spell of time,” he said.

Holiday in Sindh

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced a public holiday across the province today due to the rain emergency in several cities and towns of Sindh. A statement issued by CM House said all government-run, public sector and private institutions would remain closed on Friday.

“Institutions which render emergency services will only be allowed to remain open. These include Sindh Government’s Health Department, the Local Government Department, its subsidiary organisations in the province, the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and revenue services offices in the province.”