Mansoon rains and floods kill 93 people in Pakistan

At least 93 people were killed and 94 others injured in rain-triggered accidents in Pakistan over the last two weeks, official statistics said Wednesday. According to data compiled by the country’s National Disaster Management Authority, the current monsoon rains affected 84,272 people, destroyed 2,309 houses and affected over 58 hectares of standing crops. The southern province of Sindh was the worst hit area where 22 people were killed and 10 others injured in various rain-related accidents. The rain-triggered flash floods affected 15 villages in the upper part of the provinces and swept away 193 houses. Rain water entered houses in low-lying areas of the province and disrupted railway, road and air traffic. The state of emergency was declared in the rain-hit areas of the province and an emergency cell was formed to carry out rescue and relief operations for bringing the situation under control. At least 21 people were killed, 13 others injured and 149 houses were destroyed in the country’s northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The floodwater affected 337 people and destroyed several bridges and highways. In eastern Punjab province, heavy downpour killed at least 18 people and injured 65 others. The rain water affected 68,936 people and destroyed 140,799 acres of standing crops. In southwestern Balochistan province, 16 people were killed and 12 others injured in the rain-triggered accidents. The northeast area of Pakistan administered Kashmir received heavy rainfall, during which at least four people were killed and four others injured. The country’s northwest tribal area also received heavy rainfall in which 12 people were killed and over 30 others injured. Monsoon rains hit Pakistan every year in June and the season normally ends in the first week of September. During this period, the country receives heavy rains which cause flooding in various areas. The most destructive flood hit the country in 2010, sweeping away 20 percent of the land and leaving 1,540 people dead and 2, 088 others injured in part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh. According to a United Nations report, 557,226 houses were destroyed and over 6 million people were displaced in the 2010 flood. In 2011, flood water killed an estimated 270 civilians in southern Sindh province. At least 5.3 million people were displaced and 1.2 million houses were destroyed.