Monsoon claims 72 lives in Pakistan

At least 72 people were killed and over 100 others injured when heavy monsoon rains lashed parts of eastern Pakistan's Punjab province and northeast Kashmir area over the past two days, local media reported Friday.
Local disaster management authorities said the separate rain- related accidents were mainly caused by roof collapse, electrocution and minor road mishaps in various areas of the country.
Abb Takk TV reported that Punjab's provincial capital of Lahore was the worst hit area where over 40 people were killed and several others injured in separate accidents.
Seventeen people including three school kids and a three-member family of a British national of Pakistani origin were killed other parts of the province.
Rain water inundated several low lying areas in the province, trapping hundreds of people inside their houses.
Air and railway traffic were also disrupted by the heavy downpour.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced Rs. 0.5 million (500 USD) aid for each deceased people and Rs.100,000 (1,000 USD) aid for those who were injured in monsoon rains.
Torrential rain killed 15 people including three soldiers in the Pakistani-controled Kashmir region, the disaster management authority said.
Eight kids were injured when roof of a seminary collapsed in the country's capital city Islamabad.
The Met Office said heavy rains and thunderstorms are expected in Punjab and Kashmir during the next 72 hours which may also cause flooding in major rivers.
The country's prime minister Nawaz Sharif took notice of the situation and ordered the National Disaster Management Authority and the Punjab government to ensure immediate rescue and relief activities in the rain-hit areas.
Pakistan army has also extended its services for providing rescue and relief to the affected people.
According to Inter Services Public Relations, the mouthpiece of Pakistan army, troops have been dispatched to the flood affected areas for relief duties.
Monsoon rains normally hit Pakistan in June and start retreating in the first week of September.
Heavy rainfall in September is quite uncommon due to the weather phenomenon determined by geographical location of the country. However, since last three years, the country has observed widespread rainfall in this month due to climate change.