KARACHI, 8 August 2006 — Heavy monsoon rains have hit many parts of southern Sindh province in recent days, including the port city of Karachi where flooding last week disrupted train, power and communication services and left at least nine people dead.
The Meteorological Department warned of floods in Sindh, and local authorities have been ordered to evacuate people living on river banks and low-lying areas.
The main road of Hawkesbay in Karachi leading to Balochistan has been washed away by rain and floodwater. Residents living in the coastal areas have been put on red alert and asked to vacate the area, sources said.
The second spell of rains resumed in the port city and other parts of the province yesterday. The weather office predicted widespread rains in Karachi and other parts of the province. They also forecast that this spell would continue for several days. Rains lashed many areas, including airport area, North Karachi, Defense and Massorar Base.
The heavy rains disrupted the normal life in the port as authorities failed to clear water logging. Transport was off the roads yesterday.
Water logging was posing threat to various low-lying localities including Lyari, Orangi, Pak Colony, Bhutta village and Keamari. Many people from these localities have taken refuge in other areas. Flooding and heavy rains in northwestern Pakistan in recent days have left 144 people dead and 97 others injured, a relief official said yesterday.
The deaths occurred since July 26 when heavy monsoon rains began, causing floods and mudslides in various districts in the North West Frontier province, said Fazal Rabi Khan, the province’s chief government relief official.
Among the casualties were 41 people who died Saturday when a road bridge collapsed in heavy rain in Mardan city, tossing dozens of people into a flooded stream, Khan said.
Thirty-nine other people died in separate incidents of flooding and rains triggering mudslides in the mountainous district of Mansehra, he said.
The other deaths occurred in several other districts in the province including Karak, where at least 10 people drowned in a rain-swollen stream, according to Khan.
Rains, flooding and mudslides have left 16,000 homes either destroyed or partially damaged in the province, Khan said. No deaths were reported yesterday but Khan said that more rains and flooding were forecast in the coming days.
Government officials have been ordered prepare for possible flood situations, he said. “We have issued instructions to all district administrations to remain on high alert.”
