19 die as rains wreak havoc in Pakistan
By IANSWednesday, July 21, 2010
ISLAMABAD - At least 19 people have died in various incidents caused by overnight torrential rains in Pakistan, a media report said Wednesday.
The deaths occurred due to electrocution, house collapses, traffic accidents and floods, as monsoon rains lashed the country Tuesday night, Xinhua reported.
The rains, however, brought relief to the people from sultry heat. Some parts in the country received over 100 mm of rainfall.
About 70 houses collapsed in Bannu in northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Low-lying areas in Sargodha, Gujranwala and Lahore cities of Punjab province were flooded.
Several villages have been washed away in flash floods in violence-hit Mohmand agency.
The meteorological office predicted more rains in the country. The rains will help refill the water reservoirs.
Pakistan does not have adequate potable water supply. In arid zones, the water table has drastically dropped, requiring more rains to recharge it.
Pakistan is currently facing a shortage of 4,500-mw of electricity. The rains however adversely affected the distribution system, exposing people to electrocution. Five people were electrocuted in Lahore, mostly children, while another died of electrocution in Sargodha.
Last year, 26 people died and more than a hundred were injured after monsoon rains lashed the country in July.
