Pakistan floods leave dozens dead and people angry at lack of help

Authorities use boats to rescue Karachi residents trapped by monsoon rains

A truck lying overturned on a flood-damaged road in Karachi on Friday. Photograph: Fareed Khan/AP

Associated Press in Karachi-Fri 28 Aug 2020 

Heavy rains have hit parts of Pakistan, including the financial capital of Karachi, for a fifth straight night, bringing further flooding to towns and villages and leaving at least 36 people dead.

About 76cm (30in) of rain have fallen in Karachi since Sunday, when monsoon rains began lashing the city, forcing authorities to use boats to evacuate people trapped in flooded streets.

Twenty people were killed in Karachi in rain-related incidents and 16 others died in the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after flash flooding overnight, according to government officials.

People wading through flood water in Karachi on Thursday. Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock

Fallen power lines caused widespread electrical outages, adding misery to the lives of many of the city’s 15 million residents. Some workers stayed at their offices while others spent the night in open areas because there was no public transport to get home in many parts of the city.

Hundreds of vehicles were dragged along the streets by powerful flood waters.

At least eight people were killed when a wall fell on them in a residential area. The victims included children who were playing at the time. Other casualties were also reported in various parts of Karachi in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll from rain-related incidents to more than 40 in recent weeks.

At least 136 people have died in Pakistan since June in rain-related incidents and many residents are angry with the authorities for not doing enough to help.

An army medical team providing treatment to flood-affected people at a camp. Photograph: Asif Hassan/AFP/Getty Images

Monsoon rains are pounding Pakistan at a time when the authorities are trying to contain the spread of coronovirus, which has caused more than 6,283 deaths since February, when the country reported its first case. Pakistan reported nine more deaths on Friday from Covid-19.

Every year, many cities in Pakistan struggle to cope with the annual monsoon deluge, drawing criticism about poor planning. The monsoon season runs from July until September.