Rain-related death toll rose to 50 when 18 more persons, including seven members of a family, died on Saturday. Police said the roof of a house in Sector 48-A, Noorani Colony of Korangi 1, in Zaman Town police station jurisdiction collapsed under the weight of heavy downpour, killing seven members of the family on the spot and injuring two seriously.
Among the dead were Yasin, 50, his wife Ruqayya, her daughter Mehwash, 17, and sons Shahbaz, Arsalan, Irfan and Mansoor. One Saad was among the injured, who was shifted to the hospital.
The bodies of Ruqayya, Shahbaz and Arsalan were shifted to Chiniot Hospital, while those of Mehwash, Irfan and Mansoor were brought to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).
It is learnt that the family was hailing from Khanpur. Head of the family Yasin was a carpenter by profession. Arrangements are being made to send the bodies to their hometown.
In other rain-related accidents, 11 persons died. In jurisdiction of Mochko police station, Atif 10, Abdul Rehman in Frare police area drowned in ditches filled with rainwater in dug-up roads and Sabir, 20, and Ameer, 18, drowned in Lyari river, while in Orangi Town, an unknown person died due to electrocution. Nazir, resident of Sikandarabad, Abdul Ghani, 50, of Korangi and Faheem, 12, of Pak Colony crushed to death in road accidents.
In yet another incident, a wall collapse claimed the life of two-year-old Hasan Ali in Korangi 51-B. Razia and shehnaz were died in Abida Colony of Baldia Town due to roof collapse. Their bodies were shifted to Civil Hospital.
Rains badly damaged the road and at places, ditches and potholes were visible. The stagnant rainwater in areas like Kharadar and Mereweather Tower, has badly hit the transport network. However, public transport was seen plying on roads, making it possible for the commuter to resume their normal activities.
At certain places in the city, knee-deep water hampered smooth flow of traffic as engines of many small and medium-sized vehicles were chocked. Among the worst-hit areas were Keamari, Lyari, Baldia, Korangi, Orangi, Landhi, Gadap and Bin Qasim towns.
Similarly, under-construction University Road, I.I. Chundrigar Road and Arambagh Road created problems for not only the motorists but also the pedestrians. Business activities in Boulton Market and adjoining shopping centres were restored, but accumulated rainwater restricted the customers to shop from there, causing huge financial losses to shopkeepers.
According to met Office, light rainfall might continue during the next 24 hours with the minimum temperature in the range of 30-32 centigrade. Minimum temperature on Saturday was recorded 25.5 degree centigrade and maximum 31.2 degree centigrade. Humidity in the air was 85 percent.