Rains claim at least 16 lives across country so far

A heavy downpour battered Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujrat, Toba Tek Singh, DI Khan, Muzaffarabad and several other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan Tuesday.

In Islamabad, a family of three perished after the roof of their house collapsed in H-9 Sector. 

In the capital's G-13 Sector, a woman died after a wall of her house collapsed due to the rain. 

Land sliding in Muzaffarbad cut off several roads in the valley whereas storm water entered houses and official buildings. The local administration has warned people residing on the banks of Neelum-Jhelum River.

In Gujrat, a dyke breach caused flooding near Gullanwala village with a vast tract of land being inundated with rainwater. A minor girl also in storm water drain in Gujrat. Local recovered the girl’s body.

In DG Khan, several people were injured in roof/wall collapse incidents. An emergency has been declared in public hospitals in the city.

In Karachi, a woman died and two others were injured when the roof of their house caved in in Korangi No. 2 ½ locality.

In Rawalpindi, water level at Nullah Lai, which runs across the garrison city, now stands at 14 feet. The level was recorded at eight feet Tuesday morning. Monsoon rains often result in the overflow of water from the canal, resulting in inundation of low-lying localities nearby. Several houses in the Dhoke Kalakhan locality of the city were flooded, with residents removing rainwater on their own. 

Officials of the Water and Sanitation Agency said they are working round the clock to pump-out the rainwater from affected areas. 

Moreover, as a result of the torrential rains, the water level at Tarbela Dam was recorded at 1,485 feet on July 12; with only 65 feet to go till the dam reaches its full storage capacity. Similarly, at Mangla Dam, the water level was recorded at 1,210 feet, with only 32 feet more to go till the dam reaches its maximum storage level.