Heavy overnight monsoon rains on Tuesday caused Thado Dam in Gadap Town to overflow, sending floodwaters into nearby areas and disrupting traffic on the Superhighway (M-9 Motorway).
Officials said rising waters inundated housing societies and submerged parts of the motorway near the Motorway Police office, forcing a temporary closure of both tracks. Traffic was later restored after partial drainage.
The hardest-hit areas included Saadi Town, Khameeso Jokhio Goth (Malir), Khameeso Goth (New Karachi), Sohrab Goth, Machar Colony, and Hasan Nauman Colony.
Residents reported water entering their homes during the night, prompting many families to flee to relatives for shelter, while others stayed behind to protect their belongings.
Rescue operations continued through Wednesday, with teams from Rescue 1122, the Army, Rangers, and Navy evacuating stranded residents.
More than 350 people were rescued, while welfare organisations like Edhi and Chhipa used boats to transport over 200 residents and provided food and clean drinking water.
A Sindh government spokesperson said the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) is working with rescue teams and security forces to handle the emergency.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed officials to closely monitor the dam’s spillways and issue timely alerts to protect lives and property.