The weather remained pleasant throughout the day as the city, distraught with recent spate of violence, received monsoon showers on Thursday and despite the volatile situation, people came out of their homes to enjoy the weather.
The light showers which started in the morning continued all day long.
Malir, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Federal B Area and Shah Faisal towns and Shahrah-e-Faisal received the maximum amount of rain, with the Met Office recording 7 mm rain in the areas. Numaish, Saddar, Defence Housing Society, Akhtar Colony, II Chundrigar Road and other areas received 4 to 5 mm rain.
In some low-lying areas, water accumulated on the roads due to which traffic movement was affected and on many roads, especially main Saddar, Metropole, II Chundrigar Road, PIDC and Zebunnissa Street, massive traffic jams were observed in the afternoon.
A large number of families rushed to the beaches of the city, parks, Karachi Zoo, Safari Park, Aladdin Park and other recreational places to enjoy the drizzles.
After a long time, rush was seen at shopping malls, commercial areas and in major markets where families were seen busy in shopping.
The met office has predicted for more rains in the city on Friday.
On contact, on-duty officer at Jinnah International Airport met office Muhammad Zafar said that light to moderate rains are expected during the next two days in Karachi, Thatta, Badin and other lower Sindh districts.
AFTAB CHANNA ADDS: Massive traffic gridlocks were witnessed on almost all major arteries of the metropolis, including Shahrah-e-Faisal, MA Jinnah Road and II Chudrigar Road, as monsoon showers disrupted routine life.
The citizens remained stranded on roadways during rain as people rushed out from their workplaces in a bid to reach home as soon as possible.
Absence of traffic police, city wardens and out of order traffic signals also put the motorists in a fix as they remained stuck in their vehicles for hours. Poor visibility during rain also added to the miseries of people.
The worst traffic congestions were witnessed on MA Jinnah Road, Aga Khan-III Road, Zaibunnisa Street, Burns Road, Garden Road, Soldier Bazaar, Purani Numaish, Guru Mandir, Business Recorder Road, Sharah-e-Iraq, Abdullah Haroon Road, Fountain Chowk, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Shaheen Complex, Metropole roundabout, Sharea Faisal, S.M. Taufiq Road in Liaquatabad, Nawab Siddique Ali Khan Road in Nazimabad, Nishtar Road and other busy arteries and their link roads.
Reportedly, at least 5,000 officers and sub-ordinate staff of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK), equipped with drainage machinery, carried out dewatering and cleaning work in different areas of city after the downpour.
Karachi District Coordination Officer (DCO) Mohammad Hussain Syed visited various areas of the city along with Municipal Services Executive District Officer Masood Alam to inspect the work in progress.
The DCO directed works and services, municipal services, fire brigade and other essential services departments to ensure round-the-clock work during rains and provide immediate help to citizens.
Syed said that due to advance cleaning and de-silting of storm water drains, rainwater had not accumulated in the city. The CDGK has prepared itself to deal with any situation in case of more rains and all the machinery and manpower will remain on high alert throughout the monsoon season, he added.
