Kindness amid floods melts hearts

Karachi, capital city of Sindh Province in Pakistan, ground to a halt since mid-August as torrential monsoon rains flooded most of the city, killing at least 15 people.

Major roads such as Shahra-e-Faisal were almost fully submerged in water.

Many citizens were trapped in rainwater in Korangi (a region in Karachi) and were facing great difficulties. They were stuck for hours, away from their homes and loved ones.

While this week showed Karachi has a long way to go as a city, with its infrastructure paralyzed due to heavy rains, Karachi people showed they would stand up for each other.

People opened up their homes to passersby, cafes offered hot drinks and phone charging facilities to people waiting for the roads to clear, neighbors offered to coordinate movements to ensure nobody getting stuck alone, and people pushed cars, hauled bikes and helped each other out.

The real heroes were the people of Karachi, local media said.

Homes and offices were open, with Orient Energy keeping its Korangi office open to facilitate people stranded in the area.

Javeria Siddique, a Karachi resident, wrote on social media: "Orient Energy provided them with shelter in their building, and offered tea and food. When the rain stopped, the citizens left for their homes with pleasant memories, grateful for the generous hospitality shown by the kind staff of Orient who warmly welcomed so many guests during the rain."

Khizer Khan, a resident, coordinated a citywide effort that included 108 mosques, seminaries and offices open and stocked with necessities throughout the night.

The Offroad Club Pakistan, a group of car enthusiasts with specially equipped vehicles, offered to help tow people's cars if they had broken down.

Eateries like Cafe Mantra in Gulshan town, Jani Biryani in Clifton, Da Noi in DHA and Kolachi Restaurant at Ocean Towers opened their doors to let people take refuge from the downpour.

Coffee Wagera, a chain of coffee shops, opened up all its branches across Karachi to people who needed a place to take cover from the rain. The home goods store Habitt also kept both of its branches open for people to shelter in.

Social media videos showed people pushing stranded vehicles through knee-deep water as cars broke down or ran out of fuel after being stuck on flooded roads for hours.

Warmhearted stories

Many people shared stories of strangers helping them and taking them in. Even radio and TV host Tauseeq Haider got stuck amid the urban flooding and was helped out by a motorbike rider.

In a post shared by the TV personality on Instagram, he was seen riding the bike with his savior until it broke down; they were however, able to get it running again as Haider lauded Karachi people for their community spirit.

Noorrenn, a resident of Karachi, wrote on social media: "Karachi is home, a home for everyone. With all its flaws, people treat each other as their own, especially at a time of disaster. Strangers help strangers on roads, and in shops, and cafes."

And families are allowing strangers to take shelter in their homes, said Noorrenn.

DAWN, PAKISTAN