The Journal: Karachi’s Stormy Chaand Raat Wednesday Night – The Arrival, The week was supposed to end in celebration, but nature had other plans. An "unseasonal" and violent westerly wave slammed into Karachi. Winds gusting up to 90 km/h (nearly 60 mph) tore through the streets, accompanied by intense thunderstorms and over 50mm of rain. For a city used to dry Marches, this was a shock. Thursday – The Aftermath. As the sun rose, the true scale of the tragedy became clear. The most heartbreaking news came from Mawach Goth (Baldia Town), where a massive boundary wall collapsed onto a group of people seeking shelter from the rain. 13 lives were lost in that single incident. Across the city, in areas like Malir and Bhains Colony, others died from lightning strikes and falling debris. By evening, the death toll reached 21. Friday (Today) – A Somber "Chaand Raat" Usually, on the night before Eid (Chaand Raat), Karachi never sleeps. The markets in Tariq Road and Saddar are typically packed. But tonight, the mood is heavy: • Moon Sighting: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee met this evening and confirmed the moon was not sighted yesterday, meaning today was the 30th day of fasting. They officially declared Saturday, March 21 as Eid. • Infrastructure Crisis: While the rain has slowed, large parts of the city are still struggling with "urban flooding" and power outages. The Airport Authority also revealed a chilling detail: during the peak of the storm, controllers had to scramble to prevent 30 passenger planes from drifting into dangerous Iranian "war zone" airspace due to the extreme weather. • The Outlook: Most residents are spending tonight cleaning up or praying for better weather. The Met Office has warned that more rain and lightning could disrupt Eid prayers tomorrow morning. Summary Table | Event | Detail | | :--- | :--- | | Confirmed Deaths | 21 (mostly due to structural collapses) | | Eid Status | Officially Saturday, March 21 | | Current Weather | Cloudy, 24°C, high humidity (86%) | | Public Holiday | The city is entering a long 4-day weekend |