Karachi, Apr 3:
At least 12 people died over 24 hours after heavy rains, thunderstorms and flash floods gripped different provinces of Pakistan as an average 30 to 45 mm precipitation for four hours threw life out of gear in Karachi on Thursday.
Authorities declared an emergency in Karachi as heavy rains that started Thursday morning, triggering urban flooding and severe disruption of normal life and traffic in the city.
Rescue services, including Edhi Trust and Chippa Welfare, confirmed five deaths due to electrocution and house walls collapsing in different areas. As cold and strong winds swept across Karachi, signboards were uprooted, trees fell and roads in many areas were flooded with water forcing authorities to declare an emergency.
Power supply was also disrupted in many areas of the city as soon as the rains started.
The Pakistan Meteorology Department (PMD) said the average rain in Karachi varied from 45 mm to 30 mm at different locations by Thursday afternoon.
According to the official PMD data, the highest rainfall was recorded in Nazimabad (Paposh Nagar) at 69.6 millimetres, followed by Kemari with 56 mm and Saadi Town with 48 mm from 10 am to 2 pm.
The met office said the average rain in Karachi varied from 30 mm to 45 mm in different locations.
PMD metrologist Anjum Nazir in Karachi said that two more heavy spells of rain are likely to hit Karachi later Thursday evening and late night.