KARACHI:
Karachi woke up to an unexpected twist on the first morning of Eid-ul-Fitr as downpours lashed the city, turning festive streets into waterlogged areas and adding a refreshing chill to the air.
The downpour began early in the morning and continued for nearly one to one-and-a-half hours, surprising many residents as they prepared for Eid prayers and celebrations. Areas including Clifton, Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Sea View, Scheme 33, Guru Mandir, Bahadurabad, Tariq Road and parts of Old City experienced light to moderate and at some places heavy rainfall.
According to the meteorological department, the highest rainfall was recorded at Jinnah Terminal Airport which measured 13.2 mm. Other notable readings included 11.4 mm at Gulshan-e-Hadeed, 11 mm at PAF Base Masroor, 10.8 mm at Old Airport, 9.7 mm at Nazimabad (Paposh) and eight mm at PAF Base Faisal. Korangi got four mm while Surjani Town recorded 2.6 mm. The lowest rainfall, 2.2 mm, was observed along the M-9 motorway.
The rain brought a noticeable drop in temperature, making the weather pleasantly cool and adding a unique charm to the Eid celebrations, though it disrupted some outdoor plans.
The Meteorological Department’s Early Warning Center has predicted that the sky will remain cloudy today (on Monday), with the possibility of light drizzle in isolated areas. However, the brighter and sunnier weather is expected to return on Tuesday.
For many Karachiites, the rainy Eid morning offered a rare mix of celebration and serenity – an unusual but memorable start to the festivities.
Meanwhile, the Eid congregation scheduled at the Polo Ground was cancelled. After this, Governor Muhammad Nihal Hashmi offered Eid prayers at the Governor House Mosque. After the prayers, he addressed the media and sent a hearty Eid greeting to the nation. He expressed gratitude to Allah for the blessings of the holy month of Ramazan and asked for acceptance of prayers and fasting.
