Monsoon rains kill hundreds in Pakistan, India

TEHRAN, Sep. 07 (MNA) – Heavy monsoon rains and flash floods have killed 110 people in Pakistan and 108 people in India, officials said on Saturday. As heavy rains have killed a number of people in India and Pakistan, forecasters warn of more rain in the coming days and troops have raced to evacuate people from deluged areas. Authorities say they are seeing some of the worst floodings in decades in towns and villages across Pakistan and in Indian-controlled areas of Kashmir. Ahmad Kamal, a spokesman for Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority, said “at least 61 people have died in the eastern Punjab province since Thursday. Another 38 people died in the Pakistan's portion of Kashmir and 11 died in northern Gilgit Baltistan province.” “Officials believe all those were killed when the roofs of their homes collapsed.” he remarked, "we are dispatching tents and other relief items for those who have been affected because of rains and floods." According to Ahmad Kamal, the army helicopters and boats were evacuating people from affected areas. Authorities fear the death toll may rise in the region as more flooding and rain is forecast for the coming days. “The deaths and destruction caused by the rains and floods were a great loss, and some 650 homes have already been destroyed,” Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in a statement. “The government, however, will leave no stone unturned to help the people in distress."