Karachi Mayor Seeks Army’s Help as Malir and Lyari Rivers Overflow

Karachi:Heavy flooding from the overflowing Malir and Lyari rivers forced water into residential areas late at night, prompting Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab to visit several affected locations to assess the situation.

Speaking to the media on the Super Highway near Shahbaz Goth, the mayor confirmed that a request for assistance had been made to the Pakistan Army through the Chief Secretary. Army contingents later arrived at the scene to support relief operations.

“The water level had reached a dangerous point a few hours ago, but due to continuous efforts, it has now significantly reduced. The situation in Lyari River has also improved,” Wahab said. He emphasized that all possible steps were being taken to protect citizens, including temporarily closing sections of the motorway to prevent loss of life.

The mayor reported that more than 200 people had already been rescued and transferred to safety, with four relief centers established for affected residents. Emergency dewatering operations were also underway to drain standing water.

Earlier, Wahab described the conditions around Malir and Lyari rivers as “challenging,” noting that both waterways were flowing like rivers in flood, with particularly high discharge in Lyari. He urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and remain indoors.

He also dismissed social media reports of flooding in Saadi Town as “false and baseless,” assuring the public that the area had not been inundated.