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Heavy monsoon rains drenched Karachi through most of Tuesday in what an official from the meteorological department described as an “unprecedented heavy downpour”. Major roads across the city were flooded, and many citizens were stuck in their cars as the city’s drainage system was quickly overwhelmed. Power outages swept through the city as well, plunging many parts of the ‘City of Lights’ into darkness.

At least eight people died in rain-related incidents, including four members of a family that were buried alive when the walls of their home collapsed in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. According to Rescue 1122 officials, residents had to be evacuated from a high-rise building in Soldier Bazaar after it had been inundated up to the first floor.

Karachiites, coming to each other’s aid, opened their homes and offices to those stranded in various parts of the city. Neighbourhood WhatsApp groups coordinated to ensure people got home safely, and many businesses invited people inside to shelter from the rain and charge their phones.

Through all this, users on X (formerly Twitter) asked the one question on everyone’s mind — why does this keep happening to Karachi?

Karachiites on the platform lamented mismanagement of the city’s resources and expressed their anguish over the state of affairs, although there was some disagreement on whether the city was drowning or had already drowned.

Amid all this, there were stories being highlighted of people’s willingness to help out during the crisis.

Being the light-hearted people they are, citizens poked some fun at local authorities for insisting the situation was under control as many were still stuck away from their homes.

Users also highlighted the plight of those most affected by this year’s monsoons. The flood victims in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir were on people’s minds, including podcast host Shehzad Ghias Sheikh, who said their tragedy deserves to be seen too.

Another user talked about how climate change wasn’t just an issue for the mountainous regions of the north but a nationwide problem that just struck Karachi.

A user posted shots from the movie Parasite to highlight how rain and urban flooding impact social classes differently, a contrast that holds especially true in Karachi.

Lastly, many sent their love and prayers to the people of Karachi.

While it’s true that Tuesday’s rain was particularly heavy, urban flooding in Karachi is a recurring phenomenon that often leads to loss and misery for the people who live here. The never-ending cycle of flooding and subsequent promises to take precautions against it is wearing thin as people reel from yet another crisis. For now, it appears Karachiites have just accepted that they might not be able to go home from work every time it rains.