KARACHI, July 18 A total of 18 deaths soured Karachi's initial outburst of joy over the first downpour of the season on Saturday. Over 150 people were injured.
The heavy rain and gusty winds wrought havoc on the city's infrastructure.
Most of the victims were women and children living in shanties.
To make matters worse, a massive power breakdown jolted Karachiites when the KESC lost its link with Jamshoro late in the night.
Officials said a fault in the 550-KV transmission line near Multan suspended the KESC's link with Jamshoro, causing a near-complete blackout in the whole of Karachi except for the Hub Chowki link, which was still working.
The officials said the KESC would soon restore the city's power supply by isolating from the national link.
Major roads, intersections and roundabouts were submerged under knee-deep water, causing traffic jams.
Heavy showers snapped at least 68 live electricity cables in the city, affecting nine grid stations and nearly 300 electricity distribution feeders in different localities, disrupting power supply to a vast area of the metropolis.
The KESC declared a 'red alert' and recalled all its employees on leave to deal with the emergency situation.
The showers continued intermittently throughout the day with some parts getting up to 84 millimetres of rain. Other areas received just 25mm till the evening.
According to the city's chief weatherman Mohammad Riaz, the system causing the rain will dissipate in next 24 hours.
Our Hyderabad correspondent adds Heavy rain lashed Hyderabad while many districts of interior Sindh received moderate to torrential downpour over the past 24 hours.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department's website, 111mm rain had been recorded in Hyderabad, followed by 106mm in Mithi and 94mm in Badin, disrupting civic life.
The managing director of Wasa, Shaukat Hayat Bhutto, said the meteorological office at Latifabad had recorded 85.5mm of rain by 8am.
The rain began late in the night on Friday and continued till Saturday morning intermittently, causing power breakdown as well. Various parts of the City, Latifabad and Qasimabad talukas were submerged. The water was drained by afternoon. The six-hour-long power breakdown also affected the working of pumping stations.
Rains were also reported in Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Tando Mohammad Khan and Jamshoro districts.
Our Badin correspondent adds Heavy rain since Friday night paralysed the civic life here and other towns in the district.
Rain started at about 2.30am on Friday night and continued intermittently till 4.40pm on Saturday, inundating streets and low-lying areas.
Electricity was restored after four hours. It again went off and was not restored even after 12 hours.
Scattered rains with thunderstorm is predicted to occur in Sindh, Punjab, Upper NWFP and Kashmir during the next 48 hours, according to the meteorological department.
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