LOC11:29
08:29 GMT
ISLAMABAD, Sept 15 (KUNA) -- As the flooded Chenab River spread to southern parts of Punjab province of Pakistan, the death toll due to torrential rains triggering floods rose to 275 across Pakistan on Monday.
According to rescue officials, more rains over the badly damaged northeastern parts of the province claimed another 25 lives. Seven people belonging to two families died in Abdullahpur village of Hafizabad in Punjab as the roof of their house collapsed. Moreover, severe flooding sank a boat carrying a wedding party near Multan city killing 18 people.
A senior police official, Mian Tanvir, confirming the death toll, told media that the boat carrying over 30 people capsized when it hit debris from a dyke that had been blown up to divert waters away from urban areas.
According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), at least 209 people have died as a result of heavy rains and floods in Punjab; 11 have died in Gilgit Baltistan whereas the death toll in Pakistani side of Kashmir reached 64.
Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) forecast high to very high flood in the Indus River at southern Guddu region on Monday and Tuesday and at Sukkur on Wednesday and Thursday after the peak in Chenab would fall downstream Panjnad.
The media wing of Pakistan military, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said that the army's rescue and relief operations continued in the flood-hit areas of Multan, Muzaffargarh, Uch Sharif, Bahawalpur and Athara Hazari.
Rescuers using over 300 boats have brought to safety about 73,000 people, army helicopters have dropped 80 tons of ration in the afflicted regions, where the injured are being treated at makeshift hospitals. (end)
sbk.rk