15 killed in fierce Pakistani storm that topples power lines, homes

PAKISTAN: Heavy rain and strong wind lashed the southern port city of Karachi, toppling power lines and buildings and killing 15 people, police said Friday.

The deaths occurred Thursday night in separate incidents in the Arabian Sea port city of Karachi where rain-triggered flooding submerged many streets and stranded thousands of commuters for hours, said police official Sohail Chatta.

Fourteen people were electrocuted in separate incidents after strong wind toppled power lines in several parts of the city, Chatta said.

The dead included a 58-year-old businessman and his son, 23, who were killed when an electricity cable struck their car that had broken down in a flooded street, he said. A man also died when a wall at his home fell on top of him.

Karachi received 77 millimeters (three inches) of rain in 24 hours, the highest in three years, said Abdul Hameed, an official with the state-run meteorological department.

Karachi, Friday, AP