20 dead as rain, strong winds wreak havoc in Pakistani city of Karachi

Heavy rain and strong winds left at least 20 people dead in Pakistan's financial capital Karachi, city authorities and rescue services said on Thursday.

The most tragic incident occurred near Baldia's Medina Colony (Mowach Goth area), where a wall collapse claimed 13 lives. In Malir, a man identified as Imran died after being struck by lightning during the storm.

In Majeed Colony, a husband and wife lost their lives when a wall collapsed, while in Bhains Colony, a four-year-old girl died after a roof caved in.

Overall, at least 20 deaths have been confirmed due to rain-related accidents across Karachi.

The storm that began Wednesday continued into the night in Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh province. Authorities advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

"According to initial reports, the deceased were drug addicts who had taken shelter in the building due to the rain," the Rescue 1122 emergency service said of the 13 victims.

Residents stand near the debris of a collapsed wall following heavy rain and strong winds in Karachi on Thursday. AFP

Abdul Wahid, a local resident, described the scene where the 13 died as "complete chaos" when the storm hit. "It rained heavily, there were strong winds, so these people were taking shelter by the walls to save themselves and then the wall collapsed on them," he told AFP.

Another local resident, Muhammad Sufiyan, gave a similar account. "They were waiting for the wind to calm down so they could cross... and go back to their homes," he said. "The wall fell on top of them and there was a lot of damage... Some animals were also killed."

Light to moderate rain fell across Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, but was heavier in some areas, meteorologists said.

Rain in March is common in Punjab province in east-central Pakistan but unusual in Sindh, which is in the southeast.

"This kind of extreme weather event hasn't happened for a long time," Pakistan Meteorological Department's senior official Ameer Hyder Laghari told the media.

Pakistan, where 45 per cent of people live below the poverty line, is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with limited resources dedicated to adaptation.

While South Asia's seasonal monsoon brings rainfall that farmers depend on, climate change is making the phenomenon more erratic.

Last year, monsoon rains in Pakistan killed more than 1,000 people.

Agencies