Karachi smashes 41-year rain record as heavy downpour chills city

• Karachi receives light showers with strong winds overnight.
• Rain-related death toll in two days reaches seven.
• Temperature plunges to winter-like chill in April.
  

KARACHI: The recent massive rain spell has broken a 41-year-old record in the port city, bringing a sudden winter-like chill to the metropolis, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reporting 38.7 millimetres of rain in just 24 hours. 

The figure officially broke the previous April record of 37mm, which was set back on April 2, 1985.

The record-breaking rain has caused temperatures to plunge across Karachi. Last night, the minimum temperature was recorded at 16°C, which is 5.8°C lower than the usual average for this time of year. 

Normally, Karachi sees an average temperature of 21.8°C in April, but this recent spell has left the city feeling much colder than normal. 

The Met Office said in its latest weather forecast that the current westerly wave is now moving toward the southeast, but its effects will remain in other parts of the country until April 4. 

For today, Karachi is expected to have partly cloudy skies with only light rain or drizzle. Forecasters confirmed that no more heavy rain is expected in the city today.

The recent wet spell turned deadly, with the total death toll rising to seven over the last two days. A person in Gulistan-e-Jauhar block 7 reportedly died after being electrocuted during the rain. 

Besides the latest casualty, several other tragic incidents were also reported on Thursday, with five deaths from electric shocks in areas like Surjani Town, PIB Colony, and near MA Jinnah Road. 

In Old Golimar, a wall collapsed onto a rickshaw, killing the driver on the spot. Another wall collapse in Orangi Town left three children injured. Rescue teams reached the scene quickly and moved the children to a nearby hospital for medical help.

The heavy rain that started on Thursday morning and continued overnight into Friday in intermittent spells caused major problems for residents. Many low-lying areas were flooded and couldn't be cleared for hours. Safoora Chowrangi and Hassan Square were the worst hit.

Water on the main roads left commuters stuck in long traffic jams for hours. Power supply was also hit hard, as many electricity feeders tripped, leaving several neighborhoods in the dark. 

The Met Office shared rainfall data from across the city, showing that Nazimabad was the wettest area with 97.4mm of rain. 

Other high totals included Surjani Town with 67mm, Keamari with 76mm, 

Other areas like DHA, Orangi Town, and Jinnah Terminal also saw significant rainfall.

The downpour was not limited to Karachi. Other parts of the province also saw heavy falls, including Mohenjo-Daro, which recorded 50mm of rain. Jacobabad, Dadu, and Hyderabad also reported rainfall. 

The provincial government said it is taking steps to drain the rainwater and restore the flow of traffic on busy roads. While the rain has provided a rare refresh for the city, authorities remain on alert as the weather system continues to pass through the region.