Karachi Rain Disaster: 20 Killed in Electrocution, Collapses Across City as Safety Crisis Deepens | ChatZyr
By City Affairs Desk | Team Chatzyr
Twenty people were killed and eight others injured across Karachi on Thursday after heavy rainfall triggered electrocutions and structural collapses, exposing the city’s deepening infrastructure crisis, police confirmed.
According to Karachi Police spokesperson DIG South Asad Raza, the casualties were reported during overnight and early morning rain spells on March 19, with most deaths linked to exposed electrical wiring, unsafe rooftops, and dilapidated buildings in densely populated areas.
Police and rescue officials said the worst-affected localities included Korangi, Orangi Town, and Lyari, where multiple incidents of roof collapses and electric shocks were recorded. Emergency teams, along with municipal authorities, carried out rescue operations in waterlogged neighborhoods as power outages and flooding hampered response efforts.
Hospitals across the city were placed on emergency alert, while several injured victims remain in critical condition.
Officials acknowledged that illegal constructions, poor drainage systems, and unprotected power infrastructure significantly contributed to the fatalities. Despite repeated warnings in previous years, preventive measures remain largely unimplemented.
The Sindh administration has sought an urgent report from city authorities, as more rainfall is forecast in the next 24 hours, raising fears of additional casualties.
Why it matters now:
This latest tragedy underscores Karachi’s chronic urban mismanagement, with recurring rain emergencies turning deadly due to neglected infrastructure, putting millions at continued risk.
Published on Chatzyr.net
Written By City Affairs Desk | Team Chatzyr
