KARACHI, July 28: Sindh was again lashed by heavy rains on Monday, with a spokesman for the provincial government putting the overall death toll at 81.
Life in Karachi was paralyzed as the skies opened up in the afternoon, leading to chaos on the waterlogged roads. Three deaths were reported from different localities of the city, two from electrocution and one from drowning.
Some parts of the sprawling city were under waist-deep water as rain continued intermittently from late afternoon to well into the night, with an average of 79 millimetres being recorded by the meteorological authorities. Low-lying areas were inundated, adding to the miseries of low-income groups already hard hit by rains last week and over the weekend. Office workers faced extreme hardships in returning home, and traffic was clogged on the main arterial routes.
A rain emergency has already been declared in Sindh, and news agency reports said over 32,000 houses had been totally or partially damaged in the districts of Dadu, Thatta, Tharparkar, Larkana and Shikarpur. There has also been heavy damage to crops and cattle.
There appears to be no relief in sight for the province with a forecast of more rain in the next 48 hours.
SPOKESMAN: An spokesman for the Sindh government said 387,657 people had been affected by heavy rains and floods in different districts of the province, adds PPI.
The spokesman said that the rains and floods had also caused damage to 229,754 acres cropped area in Badin and Shikarpur districts.
Besides, 9,066 cattle-head have perished in the districts of Dadu, Thatta, Tharparkar and Larkana. The government has set up 65 relief camps in the affected areas where 21,250 persons have been provided shelter so far, the spokesman added.
The government has deputed teams of doctors with necessary medicines in the affected areas as well as at the relief camps. The departments concerned have been instructed to take necessary measures and ensure vaccination against water-borne diseases particularly in the affected areas.
The district-wise breakdown of the persons died in rains is; Karachi (14), Hyderabad (6), Dadu (12), Badin (14), Thatta (one), Tharparkar (6), Larkana (25) and Shikarpur (3).
The federal government has also rushed 300 tents along with a consignment of blankets to provide shelter to the affected people.
The relief and rescue operations are in full swing and additional 25 motorized boats have been rushed to strengthen the fleet of naval boats already busy in shifting people to safe places in Badin district, the spokesman claimed.
According to administration of Badin district, some 5,000 villages in Badin have been affected and about 30,000 people have been shifted to over 56 relief camps but a large number of people are still stranded in the coastal belt.
Army has dropped over 1,000 parcels on Monday containing essential articles, while army boats and two hover-crafts have been in operation, according to the army sources busy in relief and rescue operation in the area.
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