Death toll hits 27 in Sindh flood

International Desk: Over two dozen people lost their lives and 46 others suffered injuries in rain-related incidents across Sindh of Pakistan as the monsoon showers that began on Saturday morning wreaked havoc on several areas and their residents during its three-day spell amid prolonged power outages.

Up to nine inches (200.6mm) of rainfall was recorded in Karachi’s Surjani Town as the average rainfall recorded at 12 weather stations was over six inches (158.33mm).

The Met Office has forecast yet another spell of moderate to heavy rains with thunderstorm entering Sindh from Rajasthan tomorrow (Thursday).

Most of the victims died from electrocution or when a wall or the roof of their houses collapsed, while at least one drowned when the truck he was driving fell into the Malir River.

According to police, a total of 27 people died in rain-related incidents across the province. Twenty four of them were residents of Karachi. Besides, the mayhem left around 46 others injured including 33 in the provincial capital.

Due to the collapse of roof or walls of buildings, Nasir Khan, 35, died in Keamari and Rashid Khan, 60, in Bin Qasim area, while another man died and around 15 others sustained injuries when the roof of a mosque collapsed and fell on them in Aligarh Society.

A driver, Ubaid, drowned when the truck he was driving fell into the Malir River in Memon Goth area. His body was recovered. In Surjani area, a man, Mohsin Salman drowned in a pool of rainwater at Khuda Ki Basti.

Meanwhile, the Met Office has forecast that another system formed in the Bay of Bengal and adjoining eastern India was approaching the country for monsoon showers. “It is likely to move westwards and reach Rajasthan on Thursday.”

The weather advisory for Sindh said under the influence of this system rain or thunderstorm of moderate intensity with isolated heavy falls are likely in Thar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Thatta and Badin districts during Thursday and Friday. “Light or moderate rain may also fall in Hyderabad and Karachi divisions during evening or night of Thursday [that could last] till Friday night,” it added.

Source: Dawn

risingbd/Aug 14, 2019/Mukul