KARACHI:
Karachi woke up with an unexpected twist on the first morning of Eid-ul-Fitr, when rains lashed the city, turning the festive streets into waterlogged patches and adding a refreshing chill to the air.
The rain started early in the morning and continued for almost an hour to an hour and a half, taking many residents by surprise as they prepared for Eid prayers and celebrations. Areas like Clifton, Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Sea View, Scheme 33, Guru Mandir, Bahadurabad, Tariq Road and parts of the 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, with 13.2 mm. Other notable readings included 11.4 mm at Gulshan-e-Hadeed, 11 mm at PAF Masroor base, 10.8 mm at old airport, 9.7 mm at Nazimabad (Paposh) and eight mm at PAF Faisal base. Korangi received four mm, while Surjani Town recorded 2.6 mm. The lowest rainfall, 2.2 mm, was observed along the M-9 highway.
The rain caused a noticeable drop in temperature, making the weather pleasantly cool and adding a unique charm to the Eid festivities, although it disrupted some outdoor plans.
The Early Warning Center of the Meteorological Department has predicted that the sky will remain cloudy today (Monday), with chances of light drizzle in some areas. However, brighter, sunnier weather is expected to return on Tuesday.
For many Karachiites, the rainy Eid morning offered a rare combination of celebration and serenity – an unusual but memorable start to the festivities.
Meanwhile, the scheduled Eid congregation at the Polo Ground was cancelled. Following this, Governor Muhammad Nihal Hashmi offered Eid prayers at the Governor House mosque. After the prayers, he spoke to the media and extended his heartfelt Eid greetings to the nation. He expressed his gratitude to Allah for the blessings of the holy month of Ramazan and prayed for the acceptance of prayers and fasting.
