“When the bus I was travelling in broke down between Nazimabad and Teen Hatti, I had no choice but to step out,” messaged Saima, a 20-year-old student. “We walked through knee-deep water to reach home. It was terrifying. For men the water was waist-high, but for us, being barely five feet tall, it was overwhelming. As women, we couldn’t even ask strangers for help. I don’t know how we managed to reach home.”

Saima and her friend Sughra eventually returned safely, though it took them hours. Many women across Karachi shared the same ordeal on August 19, when nearly 145 millimetres of rainfall brought life to a standstill. People were stranded in offices, schools, and markets, while vehicles broke down on submerged roads.

Shama, a teacher, had to abandon her car on Sharae Faisal. “People were knocking on my window, urging me to get out. I knew they meant well, but I feared the unwanted attention. Finally, an elderly man came forward and insisted it wasn’t safe to stay inside. He called a woman nearby to help me out, and together they guided me through the water to safety.”

Many young girls were seen walking hand in hand, supporting each other in lines as they braved the flooded streets — a small but powerful example of resilience. Still, Shama reflected that cultural and social barriers often prevent women from accepting help from male rescuers, even in emergencies. She stressed that during disasters, trained rescue workers should be trusted and allowed to do their jobs.

Fatima, a 25-year-old, faced another reality. Her small Japanese car broke down while she and her husband tried to navigate the flooded streets. “These cars aren’t built for Karachi roads. But what scared me more was the thought of criminals taking advantage of stranded families. I didn’t even dare use my phone — I felt like an easy target.”

Her words highlighted how sheltered many women feel in such moments. Fatima admitted she had never learned basic road survival skills and would struggle to even cross a busy street, let alone wade through floodwaters with valuables in hand.

These incidents underline an urgent need: women must be trained to respond in such emergencies, while society must also be educated to trust and respect rescue personnel. On the flip side, rescue teams themselves should be trained to operate with sensitivity, ensuring women feel safe from harassment while being assisted. Only then can the dangers of floods and rains be faced with resilience and trust.