LAHORE: Two days of torrential monsoon rains have killed at least 89 people in Pakistan, officials said yesterday, as authorities ordered the evacuation of low-lying areas around a major river.
The deaths have all come in the most populous province Punjab and in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, with most caused by roof collapses and electric shocks.
Pakistan has suffered deadly monsoon floods for the last four years -- in 2013, 178 people were killed and around 1.5 million affected by flooding around the country.
Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned there was a high risk of flooding in three towns along the Chenab river in Punjab and asked people to leave low-lying and vulnerable areas.
Troops have been mobilised for flood relief duties in eastern Punjab and ‘will remain on standby in Lahore’, the provincial capital.
Eight army helicopters and 80 boats are taking part in rescue operations around the province, the military said.
Dramatic images from Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, showed some major streets and the Gaddafi cricket stadium flooded.
AFP
