Karachi: Heavy rains and its aftermath
claimed 10 lives in Pakistan's biggest city on Saturday and
disrupted normal life, leaving thousands stranded on
water-clogged roads and arteries for hours.
The local administration confirmed that 10 people,
including three women and two children of one family, had died
in Ranchor Lines area.
"All the deaths have occurred due to electrocution and in
Chuna Bhatt lane in Ranchore Lines three women and two
children died after touching a live wire," one official said.
He said the women had died while trying to save the
children.
In another tragic incident a swimming instructor, Saleem
was electrocuted while wrapping up a training session in the
pool in which a live wire fell unexpectedly.
The downpour that started in the afternoon and lasted for
more than an hour left the civic life in total disarray as
gutters and sewerage lines overflowed on the roads and the
main arteries for traffic were completely choked.
The traffic police advised people to avoid unnecessary
travelling as heavy traffic jams were witnessed in many areas.
Chief Meteorologist Naeem Shah said more rains are
expected over the next 24 hours and a new system of rain is
expected to start from September 13.
He said that 70 millimetres of rain had been recorded in
the Karachi Airport area.
As usual the downpour also led to the tripping of feeders
in many areas leaving them without power for hours.
The heavy rains and flash floods have already caused
widespread misery and destruction in the interior areas of the
Sindh province with millions left homeless and thousands of
acres of crops destroyed as the government struggles to cope
with the natural disaster.
The ongoing rains have left a trail of destruction,
particularly in rural Sindh due to a breakdown of basic
infrastructure and flooding.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 23:17