Sukkur, a city in Sindh, has experienced unprecedented rainfall this monsoon season, breaking a 77-year record with 290mm of rain in just one day. Previously, in 2022, the city recorded 374mm of rain over 12 days, but this year, the same volume almost fell in a single day.
Sindh government spokesperson and Sukkur Mayor Barrister Arsalan Islam Sheikh reported that the dewatering process has been completed in 80% of the city. He assured residents that efforts are ongoing in the remaining areas and that life should return to normal within a few hours.
Mayor Sheikh also noted that the Sukkur Municipal Corporation had prepared in advance for such heavy rainfall. They upgraded disposal stations, installed heavy generators, and deployed necessary machinery in 57 low-lying areas to ensure timely drainage of rainwater. While Old Sukkur, Ghanta Ghar, and other parts of the city were flooded, swift action helped bring the situation under control.
Monsoon season, from June to September, often brings weather-related disasters, but experts believe that climate change is making these events more frequent and severe. Despite contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
In 2022, catastrophic floods submerged a third of Pakistan, killing over 1,700 people, displacing 33 million, and destroying thousands of homes.