{"id":56160,"date":"2024-02-04T11:11:25","date_gmt":"2024-02-04T11:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/internet-reacts-to-karachis-urban-flooding-after-heavy-rains-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2024-02-04T11:11:25","modified_gmt":"2024-02-04T11:11:25","slug":"internet-reacts-to-karachis-urban-flooding-after-heavy-rains-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/internet-reacts-to-karachis-urban-flooding-after-heavy-rains-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Internet reacts to Karachi\u2019s urban flooding after heavy rains | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Heavy rains on Saturday wreaked havoc in various areas of Karachi, leaving roads submerged and more than 700 electricity feeders tripped, plunging several neighbourhoods into darkness, Express News reported. The rain started after sunset, just as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had predicted, and rapidly intensified across almost all areas of the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As citizens struggle to navigate power outages and intense urban flooding due to poor drainage, the internet has erupted with concern and humour at the yearly collapse of infrastructure. One user on the microblogging platform X shared a snapshot of accumulated rainwater on the roads while riding a bike.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeaview opened a new branch on Zamzama,\u201d remarked the user jokingly at the worrying state of the city\u2019s drainage. Another X user shared an all-too-familiar sight of an overflowing gutter in a brief video clip, which also shows citizens walking their bikes through the contaminated pools of water. \u201cObligatory Karachi urban flooding gutter fountain video,\u201d the caption reads.<\/p>\n

Reacting to a video depicting vehicles submerged in rainwater at Karachi\u2019s major boulevard, Shahrah-e-Faisal, one internet user expressed their frustration: \u201cIf anyone shares videos of flooded streets in the developed world as a response to this, I will absolutely go crazy. It’s a one-off occasion there. It’s business as usual here. Why must Karachi flood every time it rains?\u201d<\/p>\n

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If anyone shares videos of flooded streets in the developed world as a response to this, I will absolutely go crazy. It’s a one-off occasion there. It’s business as usual here.<\/p>\n

Why must Karachi flood EVERY time it rains. https:\/\/t.co\/5Lg2AIzFXl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ariba Shahid (@AribaShahid) February 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Given the sheer effort of navigating the inundated city, some are comically referring to the ordeals of the renowned British trooper, Bear Grylls. In one Hindi-dubbed video captioned as \u201cWhen you visit Karachi in rainy season,\u201d Grylls can be seen traversing a rough waterscape while narrating the turbulent weather conditions and risks.<\/p>\n

The timing of this torrential rain spell has not escaped the notice of netizens who are pointing out how Karachi\u2019s latest crisis will impact the upcoming general election on February 8. \u201cImagine Nawaz Sharif accepts the live debate offer Bilawal has been making him and comes to Karachi now after the rain,\u201d speculated one post with a laughing emoji.<\/p>\n

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Imagine nawaz sharif accepts live debate offer Bilawal has been giving him and come to karachi now after rain \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n

\u2014 Anas Tipu (@teepusahab) February 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Another post relayed a similar sentiment, convinced that the disruptive downpour has dealt a major blow to one political party\u2019s campaign in Karachi. \u201cKarachi flooding within 10 minutes of rain? Has Bilawal Bhutto considered doing another podcast with Shehzad Ghias about just how progressive he is?\u201d the post asked rhetorically.<\/p>\n

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karachi flooding within 10 minutes of rain? has bilawal bhutto considered doing another podcast with shehzad ghais about justtttt how progressive he is????<\/p>\n

maybe that’ll solve the urban flooding in the biggest city of the province he’s ruled for 15 years now https:\/\/t.co\/vOjw5Ar0cR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 safi (@notes4saf) February 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

The user furthered on, \u201cMaybe that’ll solve the urban flooding in the biggest city of the province he’s ruled for 15 years now.\u201d \u201cEconomic capital in ruins after a single spell of rain, former first lady’s menstrual cycles being discussed in courts, judges being heckled abroad, feminist organisations being attacked because they’re easy targets, Pakistani society disintegrating in real time,\u201d one post on X checked the recent happenings with a green tick emoji.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Economic capital in ruins after a single spell of rain \u2705
Former first lady’s menstrual cycles being discussed in courts \u2705
Judges being heckled abroad \u2705
Feminist orgs being attacked bcs they’re easy targets \u2705
Pakistani society disintegrating in real time \u2705\u2705\u2705<\/p>\n

\u2014 Rutaba | \u0631\u064f\u0637\u0627\u0628\u06c1 (@rtnvir) February 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Others, however, are drawing parallels between themselves and Karachi\u2019s spontaneous burst of rain. \u201cI get Karachi because I, too, am prone to sudden breakdowns and downpours,\u201d expressed one X user. Taking a jibe at the complicated relationship many residents have with the city due to inadequate civic amenities, another post offered, \u201cI love Karachi. What the f*** is infrastructure? Who needs drainage for a coastal city?\u201d<\/p>\n

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i get karachi cuz i too am prone to sudden breakdowns and downpours<\/p>\n

\u2014 Daniyal (@DanDan__4) February 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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I LOVE KARACHI RAHHHHHH \ud83d\udde3\ud83d\udde3\ud83d\udde3 WHAT THE FUCK IS INFRASTRUCTURE \ud83d\udde3\ud83d\udde3\ud83d\udde3\ud83d\udde3\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25 WHO NEEDS DRAINAGE FOR A COASTAL CITY \u203c\ufe0f\u203c\ufe0f\u2049\ufe0f\u2049\ufe0f\u2049\ufe0f\u2049\ufe0f<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ibrahim Shamsi (@ibbruhim) February 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

The intense rain resulted in flooding on various city roads, causing motorcycles and cars to come to a standstill. Areas including Landhi, Korangi, DHA, Clifton, II Chundrigar Road, Tower, Keamari, Bolton Market, Saddar, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Nipa, Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, North Karachi and Surjani experienced heavy rainfall for over 20 minutes, accompanied by strong gusts of wind.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n