Monsoon rains: 17 people die, hundreds of houses damaged in Pakistan’s Sindh province    

Grave safety concerns as monsoon rains continue to lash Pakistan

By Nasir Aijaz
AsiaN Correspondent

Islamabad: As the sporadic but heavy monsoon rains continued in most parts of Pakistan on Tuesday, the second day, at least 17 people have reportedly died in rain-related incidents, mostly due to electrocution, and scores of houses have been damaged across southern Sindh province during the last 24 hours.

The rainwater has submerged low-lying localities in about a dozen towns of the province. Most affected is Hyderabad, the second largest city of Sindh, where 188mm rain was recorded on Monday.

The heavy rains have disrupted communication and the power supply system. The inundation is attributed to the decades-old and faulty drainage system. In some flooded areas, the people are reportedly marooned.

There is concern the situation would worsen with further inundation and deaths besides damage to houses, as heavy downpour continued in Karachi, the provincial capital, Hyderabad and other towns and more rains are predicted.