Peshawar floods: At least 44 killed after heavy rain, flooding in Pakistan

Photo: Heavy rain & winds in Peshawer caused dozens of
buildings to collapse 

At least 44 people have been killed and more than 200 injured after a storm struck Pakistan's north-west city of Peshawar causing dozens of buildings to collapse, officials say.

Intense rain and strong winds buffeted the city and adjacent districts late on Sunday, felling trees, causing dozens of roofs and walls to collapse and blocking many roads.

Floodwater from torrential rainfall had reached one metre deep in some parts of the city of more than 3 million people.

"At least 44 people have been killed and 202 wounded. The storm followed by heavy rain and hailstorm has severely damaged wheat crops and orchards," provincial information minister Mushtaq Ghani told AFP.

Mr Ghani said that authorities were estimating the losses and expressed fear that hundreds of cattle had been killed.

Aamir Afaq, a senior official of the provincial disaster management authority, confirmed the death toll and said that efforts were underway to provide food, shelter and emergency medical services to those affected.

Mushtaq Ali Shah, director of the provincial meteorological department, described the storm as a "mini cyclone with wind speeds of 110 kilometres per hour".

He said the cyclone had lost speed but heavy rainfall was expected in the province's northern districts for a number of hours.

Mr Mehsud meanwhile said rescue operations were being hampered by blocked roads and disrupted communications due to the collapse of mobile towers.

The military was also called in to boost rescue efforts, equipped with ground penetrating radars, concrete cutters and sniffer dogs, according to a tweet by the army spokesman.

Prime minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his grief over the loss of life and property.

"He extended condolences to the aggrieved families and asked provincial government and disaster management authorities to gear up rescue efforts so as to control the damage," a statement by his office said.

Safety standards, particularly in construction, are very lax in economically underdeveloped Pakistan.

Many of the more than 200 killed in last year's heavy monsoon rains died after roofs collapses.