Karachi (dpa) - Heavy rainfall has prompted the authorities in the southern Pakistani province of Sindh to declare a state of emergency as the death toll rose to 60, officials said Sunday.
Many died in rural areas as mud houses collapsed around them and all hospitals in the province are on high alert.
According to the Met office, a 10 year record was broken in Sindh with 292 mm rain was recorded in 24 hours in the worst affected district of Badin, about 100 kilometres north of Karachi.
Troops were called in to aid rescue work on Saturday after heavy monsoon rains lashed southern Pakistan leaving more than 50,000 people stranded, Pakistan Army spokesman Colonel Mohammad Idrees told dpa.
"The soldiers have rescued over 6,000 people and shifted them to relief centres established in different parts of the affected areas," Idrees said.
Some 600 people were recovered using helicopters and food drops were organized for some less accessible areas.
"The situation is bad in Badin as it is still raining there and we are facing difficulties in rescue work," rescuer Rizwan Edhi said.
In southwestern Balochistan province, about a dozen people have died including a mother and three daughters who died as their mud house collapsed in Chaman area bordering Afghanistan.
The monsoon rains, which started on July 1, have so far claimed more than 100 lives in different parts of Pakistan, mainly in the southern Sindh and southwestern Balochistan province.
Relentless rains flooded many villages in Sindh and Balochistan. Water levels were still rising at dams, rivers and canals and a low level flood was feared in the area, it was reported.
Parts of central Punjab province also experienced torrential downpours on Saturday which continued into the night.
Urban centres, including the port city of Karachi, were also hit by heavy rain, resulting in severe disruption. Fishermen have been advised not to put to sea with such dangerous weather conditions.
Meteorologists have predicted more rains in the next 24 hours across Pakistan.
dpa qm cu AP-NY-07-27-03 0627EDT
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Received by NewsEdge Insight: 07/27/2003 06:28:08
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