KARACHI: At least 27 persons were killed in rain-related incidents in Sindh during the latest spell of monsoon rains, which hit Karachi and some other parts of the province on Aug 10 and continued till Aug 12. Inspector General of Police Dr Syed Kaleem Imam said the police were investigating the incidents and that action might be taken against those found responsible in light of the investigation, it emerged on Wednesday.

According to a police summary detailing casualties/damage during the recent rains, 27 people were killed in rain-related incidents across Sindh, 24 in Karachi alone, while 46 people were injured.

Of the total deaths reported to the police, 18 people were electrocuted in the province. The police data was silent on the age and gender of the victims.

The data obtained by Dawn on Wednesday revealed that four persons died from electric shocks in South zone, five in East zone and six in West zone of the Karachi police, totalling 15 from Aug 10 to 12.

Two more persons were electrocuted in the Hyderabad range while another person died in the Larkana range.

A total of 27 deaths in rain-related incidents reported

Thus a total of 18 people died from electric shocks as per the police summary of rain casualties.

The police data stated that only one person drowned during flooding in the West zone of the city. One person was killed by lightning in the Mirpurkhas range.

Roof/wall collapses claimed nine lives — eight in Karachi and one in Hyderabad. Of the eight persons, six died in East zone and one each in South and West zones.

The police data showed that three persons were killed while 26 others injured when the roof of a mosque caved in during Eidul Azha prayers in the Sohrab Goth area.

At least 46 persons were injured during the three days of rain with 43 people having suffered injuries mainly owing to roof/wall collapses.

It has been pointed out that 33 people were injured in Karachi. Of them, 31 were hurt in collapse of structures with 27 persons in East zone of Karachi. The four others were injured in West zone.

Two persons were injured from electric shocks in East zone.

Twelve persons were injured in the Mirpurkhas range with 11 sustaining injuries because of roof/wall collapses while one was hurt in lightning.

At least five sacrificial animals also died after receiving electric shocks in different parts of the city.

Regarding the registration of FIRs over casualties during the recent rain spell, the police report said that only one FIR was registered about the death of three young friends in Defence on Sunday evening.

Police probe

Talking to the media after laying a wreath at the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah to mark Independence Day, Sindh IGP Dr Syed Kaleem Imam said that after a long period, heavy rains had hit Karachi, causing human and property losses.

“The officers are probing the incidents which were reported to the police,” said Mr Imam. He hinted that people held responsible/negligent during the probe would be taken to task.

Answering a question, the IGP said that an inquiry into the death of a passerby in Pirabad on Monday during crossfire between the police and an alleged criminal had been initiated and added that “transparency and impartiality” were being given importance in all matters.

Responding to another question, the provincial police chief claimed that “some progress” had been made in the Quaidabad bomb blast and deadly attack on Mufti Taqi Usmani and police were working on it.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2019