Yesterday, Karachi experienced a day filled with chaos and unpredictability as torrential rains disrupted daily life across the city.

The morning began with a light drizzle and the usual humidity typical of the monsoon season, which had already brought intermittent rain to various areas. Despite warnings of potential urban flooding and heavy downpours circulating in the media, many residents, as usual, dismissed their mothers’ advice to stay indoors.

The day started typically, with a brief splash of rain just as I arrived at the office around 8am. Although the rain subsided quickly, it left roads waterlogged and caused moderate traffic jams in some neighborhoods. As the sun emerged, the weather returned to its usual oppressive heat, leading many Karachiites, including myself, to assume the day would proceed with scattered showers.

However, by the afternoon, ominous clouds gathered and soon unleashed a relentless torrent of rain. The downpour escalated rapidly, bringing the city to a standstill. Reports flooded in of severe traffic congestion in areas like Gurumandir, where rising waters began to seep into office buildings.

Other neighborhoods, including Lasbela, Lalukhait, Teen Hatti, Saddar, and Shahrah-e-Faisal, were similarly affected, with roads submerged and many individuals stranded. Tragically, several fatalities and injuries were reported as vehicles became submerged and people fell into hidden, overflowing manholes.

Despite the dire circumstances, Karachi’s residents displayed remarkable calm. Social media became a beacon of hope, with posts highlighting the kindness of strangers welcoming those in need into their homes.

Numerous brands shared stories on their platforms, offering shelter in cafes along with free snacks until the storm passed. Welfare organizations also took to the streets, distributing food and bottled water to those stuck in the deluge.

The situation worsened when communication towers went down, cutting people off from news updates and leaving many without internet access. Even with disrupted internet services, Gen Z managed to post memes and reels, quickly transforming the grim narrative into a lighter one and allowing people to voice their thoughts amid the chaos.

Every year, Karachi faces similar headlines residents stranded on flooded roads, electrocutions from exposed wires, and tragic accidents involving falls into manholes. The infrastructure suffers as flash floods crack roads and trap vehicles in rising waters.

The pressing questions linger: When will Karachi become a safe city? When can its residents enjoy the rain without fear of chaos? When will they be able to travel home without the threat of being stranded? Year after year, these questions resurface, often met with vague assurances that solutions are in progress, yet the answers remain elusive.