Heavy rains kill 164 in Pakistan

Heavy rains have killed 164 people and injured more than 165 others across Pakistan since the monsoon season began in June, according to weather officials.

Sindh and Punjab provinces were the worst hit with 38 fatalities in each province since the advent of the monsoon season, the country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said in a press release late Wednesday night.

The torrential rains have also left hundreds of people homeless.

NDMA and provincial government teams are carrying out rescue and relief operation in the affected areas.

The NDMA said that they have provided a total of 873 tents, 1,150 food bags to the displaced people so far. The department have also distributed 590 blankets and 1,400 sleeping bags.

It has dispatched three boats to rescue trapped people in Karachi.

Monsoon hits Pakistan every year in June and the season normally ends in September. During this period, the country receives heavy rains which cause severe flooding in many areas.

The NDMA said that more rains are likely to hit Punjab and Sindh over the next 24 hours, but added that the flood situation is under control as all the rivers in the country are flowing at normal levels.

The most destructive floods caused by heavy rains hit the country in 2010 in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh, sweeping away 20 per cent of the land and leaving about 1,540 people dead.

According to a UN report, 557,226 houses were destroyed and over six million people were displaced.