108 people killed in rain-related accidents across Pakistan

At least 108 people have been killed and several others injured in separate accidents triggered off by incessant rains across Pakistan since the beginning of this month, officials said Sunday evening.

Brig Kamran Zia, spokesperson of the country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said that the current torrential rains inundated 700 villages, affected 334,000 people and swamped 5.25 hectares of standing crops.

The highest number of fatalities was reported in the country's eastern Punjab province where 30 people were killed and 290,306 others affected in separate rain-related accidents. Several low lying areas of the province were swamped and many people were stranded inside their houses.

Twenty-four people were killed and 336 others affected when heavy rains lashed several areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province including the provincial capital of Peshawar. The flash floods damaged power and communication lines and destroyed 4,279 acres of standing crops.

A total of 22 fatalities have resulted from the heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding in southern Sindh province where water submerged low lying areas.

The provincial capital of Karachi remained the worst hit area where 18 people were killed and several others injured in separate incidents of electrocution, road accidents and drowning.

In southwest Balochistan province, 16 people were killed and two others injured in separate incidents of rain related accidents.

Twelve people were killed in separate incidents of roof collapse, drowning and electrocution in the country's northwest tribal areas. Many connecting bridges and road were swept away by flood water, paralyzing life of the local people.

In northeast Kashmir area, four people were killed and four others injured in rain-triggered accidents.

Road, railway and air traffic was disrupted in the rain-hit areas. Schools, hospitals and offices also remained closed in the affected areas due to torrential rains and resulting floods.

Forty-four relief camps have been set across the country where about 2800 are being provided with food and shelter.

Monsoon rains hit Pakistan every year in June and the season normally ends in the first week of September. During this period, the country is often hit by heavy rains which cause flooding in various areas.

The most destructive flood hit the country in 2010. The flood swept away 20 percent of the land, killed 1,540 people and injured 2,088. According to UN report, 557,226 houses were destroyed, and over 6 million people were displaced.