Torrential rains kills 15 in Pakistani's biggest city

Sep 1, 2009, 6:30 GMT

   Islamabad - At least 15 people were killed in torrential rains in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, local media reports said Tuesday.

   Torrential showers began falling at the weekend and continued through Monday, causing chaos in the metropolis of nearly 17 million people.

   Most of the deaths were caused Monday by collapsing houses and electrocution, the Aaj television channel said. At least three people were swept away in swollen channels, and more than two dozen others were reported injured.

   Rainwater flooded the streets across the port city, stalling scores of vehicles and disrupting the transport system. Thousands of people broke their Ramadan fast Monday while stranded on roads, Aaj said.

   The local education department announced the closure of schools and colleges on Tuesday because of the flooding.

   Meteorologists predicted more rains over the next 24 hours.

   Authorities are struggling to improve the infrastructure of Karachi, Pakistan's economic hub, but haphazard development in recent years has complicated the laying of new storm sewers.