Karachi [Pakistan], May 1: A major water crisis has hit several parts of Karachi after a seven-foot-wide pipeline burst at the University of Karachi, submerging roads and damaging critical infrastructure. The rupture, which occurred on Tuesday, took the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) 24 hours to isolate, The Express Tribune reported.
The delay in shutting down the water supply caused severe flooding across the university campus, forcing the closure of the institution. Water entered key facilities, including the Chemistry Department’s laboratory, damaging equipment and chemicals worth millions of rupees. Around 15 faculty members were affected by the flooding.
KWSC confirmed that 200 million gallons per day (MGD) of water will not be supplied to the city due to the rupture. Repair work is estimated to take 96 hours, leading to water shortages in multiple residential areas.
The affected neighbourhoods include:
- Mehmoodabad
- Gulshan
- Johar
- Old City Area
- PIB Colony
- Nazimabad
- Liaquatabad
- Korangi
- Landhi
- Shah Faisal Colony
- Malir
- DHA
- Clifton
KWSC CEO Ahmed Ali Siddiqui visited the university and appealed to the public to use water judiciously during the emergency. Spokesperson Abdul Qadir Shaikh noted that the water leak emerged early Tuesday and prompted an immediate response from the utility. Water supply from the Dhabeji Pumping Station was suspended to allow repairs to begin once the water level dropped.
The incident highlights critical vulnerabilities in Karachi’s aging water infrastructure and has sparked concerns about preparedness and emergency response by municipal authorities.