Torrential rains paralysed Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, on Wednesday, flooding neighbourhoods, sweeping away vehicles and leaving at least three people dead and several missing, as the army joined civil authorities in rescue operations.
At least seven people were swept away when a rickshaw and two cars plunged into the swollen Konkar stream in Karachi’s Gadap Town during overnight heavy rain, police and rescue officials confirmed.
Rescue teams recovered the bodies of three victims – a woman and her son among them – during a day-long search operation, officials confirmed. Four more people remain missing, with efforts to trace them ongoing.
The deceased were identified as 60-year-old Bano, wife of Gulab, her 45-year-old son Raja, and 40-year-old Javed Shah, son of Muhammad Habib Shah. All were residents of Gadap Town.
“The strong current hampered rescue efforts overnight. Teams resumed the operation in the morning and managed to recover three bodies,” said Sarfaraz Jatoi, Station House Officer of Gadap Town police station.
The incident occurred late Tuesday as torrential rain lashed the city, swelling the Konkar stream and sweeping away multiple vehicles. Rescue officials said the missing four are also believed to be locals of Gadap.
In a separate incident, police in Mauripur said the body of a man, believed to be around 60 years old, was recovered from the sea near Manora Salehabad Jaba Jetty. The body was shifted to Sohrab Goth Edhi morgue after initial examination. Authorities said no documents were found on the deceased, making immediate identification impossible.
