Malir, Lyari rivers overflow in Karachi; schools closed, army mobilised

Intermittent heavy rains over the past two days have plunged Karachi into crisis, with Malir and Lyari rivers overflowing, low-lying neighborhoods submerged, and hundreds of residents rescued by the army, Rangers, and Rescue 1122 teams.

The rains caused Karachi’s dams to overflow, inundating residential areas in Scheme 33, including Saadi Town. Major arteries such as the M-9 Motorway, Sohrab Goth, and Machar Colony were submerged, while the Malir and Lyari rivers reached record-high water levels, forcing many residents to evacuate.

Rescue teams, supported by the Pakistan Army and Rangers, have pulled hundreds of people to safety. In Saadi Town alone, 11 people—including women and children—were rescued after being trapped in floodwaters.

Mayor Wahab: “A dangerous situation”

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited affected areas, calling the situation “dangerous.” He noted that such water pressure in Malir and Lyari rivers has “never been seen before.”

“I have never seen so much water in Lyari River in my life,” Wahab told reporters, adding that more than 200 citizens have been rescued so far. He confirmed that the army was deployed at his request through the Chief Secretary.

The mayor stressed that the closure of the M-9 Motorway was necessary to protect lives and expressed hope that water levels would drop in the coming hours.