Torrential monsoon rain in the southern Pakistani metropolis of Karachi has killed at least 26 people and cut power to most of the city, a relief agency said. The rain flooded low-lying parts of the city, damaging hundreds of homes, downing power lines and inundating power grid stations. Virtually the entire city was left without electricity on Saturday night, but power was gradually being restored. Many of those killed were electrocuted, said Qamar Pervez, an official with the Edhi Foundation. The death toll could still rise as many parts of the city were still inaccessible to relief workers, he said.”Even my office has turned into a swimming pool and we're sitting on tables as we speak,” Pervez said. Pakistan's chief meteorologist, Qamar-uz-Zaman, said the country's commercial hub had received 14.7 cm (6 in) of rain between Friday evening and Sunday morning, but that the skies were expected to clear by evening. The annual monsoon rains have started about 15 days later than normal and will probably bring 30 percent less rainfall than usual this year, Zaman said. Rain and flash floods have caused extensive damage in the region every year. In 2007, about 250 people were killed as a result of the monsoon.
