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Heavy rains kill 228 in Pakistan
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June 25, 2007 10:49 IST

At least 228 people were killed and more than 200 injured as heavy rains and thunderstorms wreaked havoc in Pakistan major port city Karachi.

Initial toll figure of 43, in the rains that began on Saturday, spiralled after 185 bodies, including those of eight children and 15 women were brought to the Edhi Foundation morgue in the city.

A senior foundation official said all the bodies have been identified and claimed.

Most of the deaths were caused by electrocution, falling trees, house collapses and road accidents, media reports quoted Sindh Health Minister Sardar Ahmed as saying.

An emergency had been declared at all the government hospitals and the leaves of doctors and paramedical staff cancelled.

The Gadap town was the worst hit with 800 incidents of house collapses accounting for at least 22 deaths, according to Town Nazim Ghulam Murtaza Baloch.

Relief camps have been set up in Mullah Essa Goth, Dost Muhammad Goth and Ghulam Hussain Solangi Goth, to provide food, medicine and shelter to people whose homes were destroyed or damaged, Baloch said.

Angry residents staged protests as the electricity supply remained disrupted even as municipal workers were engaged in clearing debris from the roads.

A spokesman of the Karachi Electric Supply Company said, ''We are doing our best to restore the power supply, but the situation is very bad.''

Meanwhile, six people were wounded in rain-related incidents in Mirpurkhas. Heavy dust storms followed by light showers were reported in Sukkur, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Larkana, Jacobabad, Rohri, Pano Akil and other areas of interior Sindh on Sunday evening.



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