KARACHI: The Meteorological Department has forecast another spell of rain in Karachi, warning that light to moderate showers may hit the city on April 6 as a fresh westerly system approaches.
According to officials, a series of westerly winds is expected to enter Balochistan via Iran on April 5, which will manifest in the form of rain across Sindh the following day. Karachi, already battered by record-breaking rainfall earlier this week, is likely to receive further precipitation.
The Met Office said the showers would be lighter compared to the historic downpour on Thursday, when the city recorded 38.7 mm of rain in a single day, surpassing the previous April record of 37 mm set in 1985. The heavy rainfall had inundated major wholesale and commercial centers, causing losses estimated at Rs 4 to 5 billion to traders, while also claiming several lives.
Chief Meteorologist Ameer Hyder described last week’s event as “historic,” noting that alongside the rain, temperatures dropped to 16°C compared to the April average of 21.8°C. The unusual cold spell added to the disruption in the country’s largest city.
Karachi has already witnessed tragic consequences of the extreme weather, with at least 21 people losing their lives last month when strong winds and rain caused walls, roofs and trees to collapse, while six more fatalities were reported on Thursday night.
With another spell now on the horizon, civic authorities face mounting pressure to strengthen drainage systems and emergency response measures. Traders’ bodies have demanded immediate government intervention, warning that even short bursts of rain continue to inflict “irreparable losses” on the city’s commercial lifeline.
