Floods kill 16 in Pakistan

Floods, caused by overnight heavy rains, hit remote areas in northwest Pakistan and killed at least 16 people, officials in the region said on Thursday. Local TV channels reported that heavy overnight rains lashed areas in Kohistan along the Karakuram Highway and washed away houses. Dozens of people were swept away by flash flood and locals recovered 16 bodies Thursday morning. Reports said that the people have no access to several flooded areas to recover bodies and to shift stranded people in flood-hit areas. The local authorities sent rescue teams to the affected areas while appealing to the federal government to send helicopters for further relief operations. According to reports, several people are still missing. Kohistan was of the worst affected regions in Pakistan by devastating floods in 2010, which had killed a large number of people and displaced millions across the country. This year too, traditional monsoon torrential rains hit parts of southern Sindh and eastern Punjab province over the past few weeks. UN aid agencies and local authorities say that nearly two million people have been affected in the two provinces. Over 20 people also lost lives. More monsoon rain is expected in the coming days that may cause flooding, UN agencies say. On Wednesday, standing crops over 10,000 acres and more than 20 villages were affected by the flood. At least 12 houses collapsed in a small village but there was no loss of life. The inhabitants are using boats but reluctant to leave their homes. Roads and streets in several villages as well as crops of maize, rice and fodder have been inundated while rescue teams evacuated dozens of people.