Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway Flooding Causes Millions in Damages

Heavy flooding on the M-9 Motorway forced the office of the Motorway South Zone DIG under water, leaving patrolling and speed-checking vehicles worth millions of rupees submerged. Officials said the rising water reached nearly five feet inside the premises, cutting off access roads and trapping employees who were later seen swimming through the inundated building.

Traffic on the Karachi–Hyderabad route was suspended overnight as heavy vehicles lined up on the motorway due to the flooding. The route has since been reopened after water levels receded, but officials confirmed that congestion and pressure remain high on one of the busiest highways in the province.

Authorities have not yet released a full damage report, but initial findings suggest that several official vehicles are beyond repair after being submerged. Floodwater also spread into nearby residential areas, adding to the chaos.

The flooding comes as intermittent monsoon rainfall continued across Karachi. According to the Met Office, Surjani Town received the maximum rainfall of 129.6mm, followed by North Karachi with 72.2mm and Korangi with 70.5mm. Other affected areas included Defence Phase-VII, Gulshan Hadeed, Nazimabad, Keamari, Saadi Town, Orangi, Bahria Town, University Road, and Jinnah Terminal.

The Met Office reported that the current wet spell is expected to persist, with moderate rainfall forecast for the next two days.

In addition to urban flooding, streams fed by the Kirthar mountain range, including Mol, Khadeji, and Jaranda, have swelled, feeding water into the Malir stream and raising its levels significantly. Rising water levels in the Lyari stream have also forced residents in low-lying neighborhoods to evacuate as floodwaters entered homes.