Karachi Crumbles After First Monsoon Spell, Inner-City Streets in Chaos
Karachi’s fragile civic infrastructure gave way after just a single monsoon spell, with inner-city streets turning into stagnant waterbeds and several roads caving in under the weight of neglect. As torrential rain lashed the city, major routes remained partially navigable, but neighbourhood roads — especially in lower-income areas — fell into disrepair almost instantly.
The aftermath has left residents wading through flooded lanes and navigating broken roads amid the stench of sewage and uncollected waste. Across the city’s 25 towns, no significant relief efforts were reported, revealing a glaring lapse in municipal preparedness.
While some arterial roads held up under the downpour, localities like Korangi’s Qayyumabad, Shah Faisal Colony, Manzoor Colony, and North Karachi saw their streets collapse or flood completely. Admin Society, Mahmoodabad, Surjani Town, and Baldia also reported alarming conditions, with stagnant water cutting off mobility and creating a breeding ground for health hazards.
In areas such as Nazimabad, Gulberg, and Malir, large piles of garbage added to the mess, a result of the continued inefficiency of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB). With no visible waste clearance and sewerage systems overwhelmed, residents were left to fend for themselves.
A glaring example of the city’s civic decay is Liaquat Ali Khan Road in Model Colony. What used to be a key commuter route has turned into a cautionary tale of administrative failure. A gas pipeline excavation by Sui Southern Gas Company weakened the foundation, and the first rain completed the collapse. The area now sits submerged in sewage water, with no drainage solution in sight.
This urban dysfunction comes just as Karachi braces for extended rainfall through September. As authorities scramble for damage control, the first monsoon downpour has already raised a grim alarm: the city is dangerously unprepared for what lies ahead.
