Heavy monsoon rain kills at least 18 in southeast Pakistan

[News_Editor]

Heavy monsoon rain kills at least 18 in southeast Pakistan

2011-08-13 22:23:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

KARACHI, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) – Torrential rains have wrecked havoc in most parts of southeast Pakistan's province of Sindh, leaving at least 18 people dead and many others injured, local media reported on Saturday.

Heavy rains in the main cities of Karachi and Mirpur Khas, as well as many other villages in Sindh, have caused roof collapses, flooding, and other rain-related incidents, during the past few days.

At least seven people including two children were killed and 28 others were injured in Mirpur Khas during heavy rainfall while six persons lost their lives and many others received serious injuries in several areas of Tando Mohammad Khan. In Karachi, three people were also reported dead in various rain-related incidents.

In addition, two girls lost their lives when the roof of their house collapsed in Odho village in the district of Badin which, according to meteorologists, received a record breaking rainfall of 295 mm (12 inches) during the current monsoon spell which started on Wednesday.

Local newspapers reported that the district of Badin has not received so much rain since at least 1936 when 121 mm (5 inches) of rainfall was recorded.

Meanwhile, dozens of villages across the province of Sindh came under floodwater which ruined the cultivated crops over thousands of acre agricultural land. The torrential rains that have affected the province since Wednesday also disrupted the power supply and the road and communication links.

Meteorological officials said the current monsoon spell is likely to continue till Monday with rains in most parts of Pakistan and warned that another monsoon weather system will approach the country on August 15.

In view of the continuing intermittent rains and the threat of more flooding, the Karachi administration declared an emergency in the city and have started the arrangements for draining out rainwater.

Last year, around 2,000 people were killed when severe flooding submerged almost one-fifth of Pakistan. It was the country's worst flooding in modern history and affected some 20 million people.

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