News
Sunday, August 04, 2013
Rains, floods cause havoc across country; 30 killed
* Heavy rains trigger flash floods in Balochistan, KP and South Punjab, killing people and destroying houses, roads and crops* Middle-level flood in rivers Sindh, Jhelum and Chenab
* Emergency declared as 16 killed in Karachi
ISLAMABAD: At least 30 people have been killed due to torrential rains and floods across the country.
Thirteen people, including children, were killed and more than 25 injured after rains triggered a flash flood in Khyber Pakhtunhwa. In Karachi, 16 people, including women and children, died and several others were injured in rain-related incidents on Saturday.
According to reports, the ongoing spell of downpour has triggered flash floods in various areas of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southern Punjab, causing widespread devastation across the three provinces. Several people have been killed while a number of villages were submerged, destroying houses, roads and crops.
Torrential rains in northern parts of the country also triggered floods in rivers and drains, washing away hundreds of houses and killing many people.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, there was a middle-level flood in rivers Sindh, Jhelum and Chenab.
Meanwhile, an emergency was declared after a breach in an embankment in Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan. Water level was also surging in River Mola in Jhal Magsi. The deputy commissioner of the district said that people were being shifted to safer places.
Lifeboats were being used to transport people from flood-affected areas to safer locations.Nowshera was also put on high alert as floodwaters were fast heading towards the city after wreaking havoc in other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Although water flow in Budhni Nullah has receded, traffic was still suspended on Charsadda Road. Moreover, 50,000 cusecs of floodwater reached Warsak, posing danger to the population on the banks of River Kabul.
Emergency was also declared in Karachi after 16 people, including women and children, died and several others were injured in rain-related incidents in the country’s largest city.
Downpour began in Karachi on Saturday, submerging many of the city’s areas in no time.
Thirteen people died of electrocution in Malir Town, Defence Morr, Paposh Nagar and other areas whereas a child drowned in a ditch in Karachi’s Sakhi Hasan neighbourhood.
Another child died when the roof of an apartment collapsed in the city’s Gulzar Hijri area whereas one person was killed in a traffic accident in Karachi’s Qayyumabad locality.
Twelve people were reported injured when the roof of a CNG station collapsed near the city’s NIPA Chowrangi.
Frequent power breakdowns added to the woes of people, as Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation (KESC) said nearly 300 of its power feeders had tripped.
Commuters were also seen stranded on many city roads.
The Met Office has, meanwhile, predicted more rains in various parts of the country during the next 24 hours. It also forecast floods in hills and rain canals of DG Khan, Zhob, Sibi, Nasirabad and Kalat divisions.
The department also predicted widespread rain-thundershower in Kashmir, Islamabad, upper Punjab, KP, and northeast Balochistan during the next few days. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk