Rain wreaks havoc in Karachi, leaves 18 dead in two days

KARACHI: At least seven people died and eleven others were injured in different incidents of electrocution and roof collapse on Tuesday night as heavy rain lashed the city, wreaking havoc on the creaky municipal infrastructure and power supply system.

With the eleven deaths on Monday night, the death toll from rain-related incidents in two days reached 18.

Karachi’s Landhi town received the maximum of 37 millimeters of rainfall, followed by 32 millimeters of rainfall in Gulsahn-e-Hadeed, 31 in Nazimabad, 29 in Faisal Base, and 26 in Masroor Base, according to the meteorological department.

Present spell of heavy rain is expected to continue till Thursday, weather department said.

Several roads, thoroughfares and low-lying areas were inundated by the rainfall, besides, disrupting power supply in the large swathes of the city due to tripping of over 400 feeders.

Deaths were reported in different parts of the city mostly due to electrocution. Two people died of powerful electric shock in Korangi’s Zaman Town and two deaths from electrocution were also reported in Baldia Town and New Karachi areas.

At least eight people were killed and seven others injured in rain-related incidents in different parts of the metropolis on Monday night.

Two pillion riders identified as Mansoor and Harris died of electric shock after an electric wire snapped and fell into rain water accumulated on the road in Garden area.

Two people, including a woman, died of electrocution in North Karachi and New Karachi areas of the city.

Young siblings – 14-year old Maryam and 12-year old Junaid – were killed when the roof of their dilapidated house came down on them due to the heavy rain near Disco Morr in New Karachi. The rescue workers and residents of the area rushed to the spot and pulled out their bodies. They were rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced them dead.

Two people including a woman died in separate incidents of roof collapse in Lasi Goth and Faqeer Goth off Super Highway. Whereas in a similar incident in Surjani Town six people were injured when the roof of their house caved in.