Catastrophic monsoon rains leave 14 dead
Heavy monsoon showers and strong winds have wreaked havoc across the country with 14 casualties reported within a span of 24 hours on Monday as images and videos of raging flood waters in urban and non-urban areas alike going viral.
Authorities also confirmed that as many as 27 people were injured in rain-related incidents all over the country.
Meanwhile, torrential rains continued for a second day on Monday in Karachi leaving at least five people dead in various incidents of electrocution during the past 24 hours, according to police sources.
The electrocution incidents reportedly took place in the areas of Tesar Town, Lyari, Liaquatabad and SITE.
Meanwhile, due to heavy rainfall, most of the city areas remained submerged in water, with all major highways flooded, causing serious difficulties to the city’s inhabitants and paralysing normal life.
The Sindh government has declared a public holiday in Karachi and Hyderabad division due to rain, and government and private offices are closed.
Saddar reported the highest rainfall in the city with 217 millimeters of rain. Furthermore, residents living near suburban areas including Malir River were forced to relocate after several feet of water flooded the streets. All the while, the poor drainage system of the port city continued to add to its problems.
The rains are expected to continue till July 26, with the new monsoon spell in various districts of rural Sindh that may be expected by July 27. A teenage boy, identified as Zia, was electrocuted in the Liaquatabad area. He was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The family said he received an electric shock from a service mast.
A man, who is yet to be identified, died of electrocution in Surjani Town. Police said the deceased received an electric shock from the snapped electricity wires. A 40-year-old man, identified as Shan Hussain, was electrocuted near the Memon Masjid in the limits of Kharadar police station. His body was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center.
Meanwhile, a couple and their two kids were injured as the roof of their house collapsed in Korangi. A couple and their two minor children were wounded after a wall of their house collapsed on them in Baldia Town within the limits of Saeedabad police station.
Police and rescuers reached the property took the family to the Civil Hospital, Karachi. They were later identified as 35-year-old Nadeem, his wife Pathani, two year-old-son Krishna and daughter Samina, 5.
After Quaidabad, the areas of the port city of Saddar and Gulshan-e-Hadeed each got 62mm of rain.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Air Force Base Masroor and Keamari recorded 54mm of rainfall, while Orangi Town recorded 49.5mm.
According to the Met Office, the Defence Housing Authority recorded 44.3mm, North Karachi 39mm, Korangi 36.4mm, Nazimabad 36mm, PAF Faisal Base 35.5mm, Saadi Town 33.7mm, Gadap 29.2mm, Gulshan Mimar 28.4mm, Old Airport 27mm, and Jinnah Terminal 26.4mm of rain.
