Eight killed as heavy rains batter parts of country

• Monsoon rains wreak havoc in parts of country.
• Flash floods damage houses and crops. 
• 10 injured in different parts of Balochistan.
  

At least eight people were killed and dozens others suffered injuries in separate rain-related incidents across the country, it emerged on Saturday night.

According to details, heavy monsoon rains wreaked havoc in Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Toba Achakzai, Qilla Abdullah, Ziarat, Pishin, Chaman, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Khairpur and other areas of the country.

Flash floods triggered by the heavy rains damaged houses and crops besides washing away roads and bridges in different areas. In addition to this, the roofs and boundary walls of several houses also collapsed. At least, 10 people were injured in rain-related incidents in different parts of Balochistan.

In Chaman, flash floods washed away a railway track and damaged another one in Noshki, cutting the rail link between Pakistan and Iran.

Scattered rains also drenched Lahore on Saturday while the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had forecast cloudy weather with chances of rain for the next 24 hours.

Faisalabad received 131 millimetres of rain, a day earlier, which turned the harsh and sizzling weather into a pleasant one and turned the low-lying areas into knee-deep water ponds.

Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) spokesperson said that a maximum 131mm of rain was recorded in Madina Town while Allama Iqbal Colony witnessed 79mm rain, Dogar Basti 74mm, Gulistan Colony 78mm and Ghulam Muhammad Abad area 91mm rain.

Sukkur plunged into darkness as the city received 180mm rains last night.  

PMD revises weather advisory

The PMD has updated its weather advisory, indicating a shift in the monsoon system from Karachi and lower Sindh towards central and upper Sindh, as well as Balochistan.

According to the PMD alert issued Saturday, the likelihood of heavy rain in Karachi has diminished, while the city may still experience light to moderate rainfall.

Furthermore, cities in Sindh such as Jacobabad, Larkana, Dadu, Shikarpur, Ghotki and Sukkur are expected to experience heavy rainfall.

As per the Met Office forecast, this weather system may continue to affect Sindh until the morning of August 19. Previously, the PMD said it expected thundershowers for Karachi within the next 24 hours.

However, the latest advisory suggests that the intensity has decreased for the port city.

— Additional input from APP