A spell of thunderstorm and strong winds has left Karachi reeling, with the city’s already fragile infrastructure pushed to the brink. From fallen trees and broken roads to mounting filth and prolonged power outages, the aftermath has exposed serious shortcomings in civic management.

While the storm caused both loss of life and property damage, its wider impact has been felt across daily life. Roads have caved in, potholes have emerged across major arteries, and ongoing development projects have been severely disrupted.

Despite official claims, the response on the ground has appeared uneven. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and multiple town administrations struggled to mount an effective and timely cleanup operation. In several areas, fallen trees remained uncleared, disrupting traffic and forcing residents to carry out rescue efforts on their own.

Sanitation conditions have deteriorated sharply. Korangi, Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony, and Malir witnessed piles of garbage turning into muddy sludge after the rain, making even pedestrian movement difficult. Similar scenes were reported in Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, and Federal B Area, where waste accumulated on streets and main roads.

In Gulshan-e-Iqbal’s Block 13-D2, long-delayed development work left roads dug up for months, which turned into muddy patches after the rain, compounding residents’ difficulties. Near Karimabad Underpass, a recently constructed road has already begun to sink in multiple spots, raising concerns over construction quality.

Even key infrastructure projects have come under scrutiny. Water accumulated on the recently built Shaheed-e-Millat Expressway, highlighting the absence of a proper drainage system. Citizens fear that heavier rains could once again damage the road, repeating past patterns.

University Road has also been riddled with large potholes, causing severe inconvenience to commuters and worsening traffic flow.

Drainage failures were evident despite relatively moderate rainfall, as water accumulated without any visible arrangements for disposal. The conditions within residential streets was even worse, with entrance lanes filled with mud and stagnant water.

Compounding the crisis, the city’s power supply system also collapsed in the wake of the storm. Over 800 feeders were affected, leaving large swathes of the city without electricity for hours. While restoration began after nearly eight hours in some areas, more than 100 feeders were still affected as of Thursday.

The overall picture points to a city struggling to cope with even moderate weather events — raising urgent questions about infrastructure resilience, governance, and preparedness in Pakistan’s largest metropolis.