Pakistan warns of more rain after flood deaths hit at least 45

KARACHI: Pakistani disaster relief officials issued fresh flood warnings Sunday after the death toll from heavy monsoon rains rose to at least 45 and waters paralysed parts of the largest city Karachi.

Flash floods caused by monsoon downpours have inundated some main roads in the sprawling port city and swept away homes in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, the death toll in Chitral is seven, with 60 homes damaged and 120 partially damaged. Deputy Commissioner Chitral, Shoaib Jadoon said that the power to Upper Chitral was disconnected and Boni Reshun, Mastuj, Garam Chasma have been the worst hit.

Deputy Commissioner Peshawar, Zaheer Islam confirmed that four people were killed in the city. Cooked food was being provided to the affected people and dewatering machines were installed to pump out water from houses on Charsadda Road and other flood hit areas.

Five people were confirmed dead in Tank, while 30 homes were left damaged in Ali Khel and 14 in Darakai. Four people lost their lives in Central Kurram, two in Khyber Agency, and one in Lakki Marwat.

More than 300 homes have been swept away or destroyed in a tehsil in Dera Ismail Khan by torrential waters which poured from the Gomal River and heavy rains in South Waziristan.

The National Disaster Management Authority warned that more thunderstorms and heavy rains were expected on Monday across the country and some rivers may flood.

At least 45 people have been killed in the floods over the weekend.

Officials in Karachi said at least 19 had died in the city to add to 20 dead in the northwest and six in the southwestern province of Balochistan.

Doctor Semi Jamali at the Jinnah Hospital in Karachi told AFP that most of the deaths occurred due to electrocution or collapsing roofs and walls.

Army engineers helped relief efforts in Karachi on Sunday where roads and streets were flooded and the city was practically paralysed, an AFP reporter said.

Authorities in the city of 18 million people, which contributes 42 per cent of Pakistan's GDP, said it would take more than two days to clear up after the water flooded markets, buildings and houses and blocked roads.

Hundreds of cars were seen half-submerged after poor sewerage and drainage systems choked due to garbage.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sent three of his cabinet ministers to inspect damage in flood-hit areas.

Pakistan has suffered devastating monsoon floods for the last three years, including the worst in its history in 2010 when catastrophic inundations killed almost 1,800 people and affected 21 million.