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Rains claim 228 lives in Karachi

KARACHI:

— PHOTO: AP

Rendered Homeless: Residents remove metal sheets and other material of a damaged building following Saturday’s heavy rains and thunderstorms in Karachi on Sunday.

Karachi: At least 228 persons have been killed and over 250 injured in devastation unleashed by heavy rains and high-speed winds that lashed Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi.

Emergency was declared in hospitals in the Sindh capital following torrential rains that started on Saturday evening with authorities cancelling the leaves of doctors and paramedical staff, said Health Minister of Sindh province Syed Sardar Ahmed on Sunday. The death toll has risen to 228, he told reporters adding that at least 50 persons were killed due to falling of advertising boards while many others died in roof and wall collapses.

The gale-force winds snapped power lines, plunging the city into darkness. Angry residents took to streets in many areas which were without electricity for as much as 18 hours with some 35 grid stations breaking down due to the rains and windstorms. Protesters were stoning vehicles and burning tyres and cars on the roads, police said. “The people are frustrated with the prolonged power breakdown and we have deployed police mobiles in many areas to contain the violence and riots,” said city police chief Azhar Farooqi.

“The rains and windstorms caused havoc on Saturday and the most damage and casualties have been reported from the low laying areas ,” he said. — PTI

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