Death and misery reign as monsoon deluge wreaks havoc in Karachi
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KARACHI: At least 11 people have died in various rain-related incidents as monsoon downpour continues to lash Karachi for a second consecutive day.

KARACHI: At least 11 people have died in various rain-related incidents as monsoon downpour continues to lash Karachi for a second consecutive day.

Large parts of the city, including almost all major thoroughfares, remain inundated as civic authorities struggle to drain out water that has collected over hours of overnight rain.

This screengrab shows stranded commuters being brought to safety by rescuers. PHOTO: EXPRESS

Contingents of the Pakistan Army and Sindh Rangers have been called in for rescue operations. Rainwater has also started to flood houses in low-lying areas such as Orangi Town, Landhi, Ilyas Goth, Ibrahim Hyderi, Shah Faisal, Malir, Scheme 33, Rehri Goth and Korangi.

Saddar’s Zaibunnisa Street and Electronics Market are also completely flooded as are several localities in Gulshan, Nazimabad, PECHS, Clifton and Defence Housing Authority.

According to rescue officials, five people have died to electrocution and wall collapses in various areas of Karachi since Sunday morning, raising the two-day death toll to 11.

‘State of emergency’

Power supply remains suspended in multiple areas of the city. Early on Sunday morning, the city’s power utility, K-Electric (KE), urged the city administration to declare a state of emergency to deal with the post-rain situation.

KE said efforts were being made to restore power supply but were “severely hampered because of the challenging conditions caused by the relentless rain and water-logging”.

It also announced that electricity supply was suspended in certain areas of the city owing to fears of urban flooding.

Apart from Karachi, the situation remains dire in other parts of Sindh with at least 10 deaths from rain-related incidents reported from different districts.

Three men died due to electrocution in Hyderabad and Jamshoro while a man was struck by lightning in Mirpurkhas district.

Besides, a young man electrocuted to death on Press Club Road in Badin district. Two sisters drowned in a rainwater stream in Islamkot, Tharparkar.

Two persons were injured when the roof of a house in Heerabad, Hyderabad collapsed during the rain. Lightning also struck a village in Diplo taluka killing 17 goats and three cows.

The rain entailed widespread power breakdowns in the districts of Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions. Reports emerging from the districts of the two divisions suggested that almost the entire districts have been blacked out.