Shaniera Akram calls it insensitivity to enjoy rain amid death, destruction

(Web Desk) – Downpours on Thursday wreaked havoc in Karachi, claiming lives and destruction, but with some residents showing no hearts kept filming those stuck in rainwater, and sharing their clips in social media as an adventure or enjoyment.

In response, activist Shaniera Akram took to her Instagram stories, sharing videos of people stuck in waist-high water inside their cars. Saddened and frustrated, she wrote: “Soooo sad! If I see another person in Karachi enjoying the rain when so many are suffering, I will call it ‘very insensitive’!”

In a follow-up post, she elaborated on her concerns: “First, think of every family that saved up for a car and has no insurance. Then every food delivery guy who can’t work, every shopkeeper or cart vendor who can’t open, every child who can’t get to school, and every home that’s been destroyed. Then post a pic about how nice the rain is!”

However, some misinterpreted her words as an attack on the rain itself or on those trying to find moments of joy amid hardship.

To clarify, she posted again: “Rain is beautiful, but it has to have somewhere to go.”
She continued, “I just get so upset by how much Karachi suffers every year because the city turns into a river. It ruins everything. People’s whole lives are destroyed. Then comes the aftermath: bacteria, illness, and mosquito-borne diseases.”

She urged people to be more sensitive, especially when others have lost homes, livelihoods, or loved ones: “Please be mindful. Take caution when you go out in the rain and remember how many are affected. When you drive your car into the flood just to take a selfie, it’s insensitive to those who have actually lost theirs.”

In another story, she issued a clear warning: “If you can’t swim, don’t go out in the rain and certainly don’t do it for a selfie. Stay indoors. Be safe. Or enjoy the rain safely, without needing to be rescued.”