Karachi floods: 23 killed, hundreds of homes inundated

The heavy rains in Karachi continued through Friday and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has directed the army to help the civilian administration in restoring connectivity and communications.

At least 23 people, including seven children, have been killed by flooding in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, large parts of which were under water on Friday following a prolonged period of rainfall that started on Wednesday night.

Pakistani commuters travel on a flooded street following heavy rainfall in the port city of Karachi on August 31, 2017. Monsoon rains in Karachi left at least 23 people dead in flood-related mishaps. The destruction came on the heel of downpours since Wednesday.(AP)

The heavy rain continued through Friday and the local media reported that many neighbourhoods were flooded, with scores of cars and motorcycles under the water, as bodies of animals floated through the streets.

People push a vehicle after heavy rainfall in Karachi on August 31, 2017. (AP)

Most of the deaths were caused by electrocution and other rain-related incidents. Some 400 houses in settlements along the Lyari river were inundated.

Most major thoroughfares were flooded while there were reports of parts of buildings and portions of roads collapsing.

A man rides a motorcycle along a flooded street after heavy rains in Karachi on August 31, 2017. (Reuters)

Pakistan’s largest city received up to 130 mm (5.11 inches) of rainfall on Thursday. The army and paramilitary Pakistan Rangers were directed by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to help clear roads and re-establish communication in the city of some 15 million.

The army, the military’s media wing said, is extending full assistance to civilian authorities and has despatched water extraction pumps to the affected areas. The Pakistan Navy too was assisting the city’s administration and had provided water pumps to drain several areas of the metropolis, a navy spokesperson said.

The navy also sent boats and divers to assist in rescue and relief operations.

A boy wades through a flooded street after heavy rains in Karachi on August 31, 2017. (Reuters)

The heavy rainfall severely disrupted transport across the city and affected dozens of flights at Jinnah international airport.

A Pakistani family tries to remove rainwater from its inundated home following heavy monsoon rains in Karachi on August 31, 2017. (AP)

The deaths in Karachi were the latest in a disaster that has so far killed more than 1,200 people across the region encompassing India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Countries in the region suffer frequent flooding during the monsoon season, but international aid agencies say things have been worse than normal this year.