KHAIRPUR: At least 10 people were killed and more than 100 got injured when the roof of a mosque collapsed in Khairpur’s Paynhar village on Monday, locals said. The people of the flood-hit area were taking refuge in it.

This incident occurred at around 7am in the village near the Shaheed Mushtaq area. Khairpur, which comprises eight tehsils and 88 union councils, has sunk in heavy rains. The road infrastructure was damaged, making it difficult for rescue workers to reach there. At least 120 people have so far died and over 500 have been wounded in rain related incidents.

Qaim Ali Shah, former Sindh chief minister, had announced Rs40 billion of funds for the area four years ago. But, locals said that area was still deprived of proper road and drainage infrastructure.

As many as 200 people were in the mosque, they said, adding that many residents decided to stay in it after their houses were swept away in floods.

The incident happened hours after incumbent provincial CM Murad Ali Shah visited flood-hit areas of Sindh. He told reporters that it was a natural calamity after presiding over a meeting to review the situation. Roads would be renovated after six months, the chief minister added.

FM Bilawal ‘cancels’ foreign visit

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has cancelled his foreign visit due to rain and floods in the country, the party said in a statement.

“My countrymen are suffering and I cannot go abroad in these circumstances,” he said, “I will live among the people in this difficult situation.”

FM Bilawal, who is also chairman of the Sindh ruling party, directed the party’s elected representatives to stay among the people in their constituencies. “All possible assistance to the rain victims will be assured.”

Negligence will cost suspension, Murad warns officials

Officials who were found to be negligent in their duty would be suspended, Murad said in reply to a query after reviewing flood damages in the Sanghar district of Shaheed Benazirabad Division. He was addressing a press conference along with Shazia Marri, the federal minister for poverty alleviation and social safety.

Sindh has received 400 per cent more rains this year which has badly affected the entire region, the CM said, adding that heavy downpour has damaged life and property as well as destroyed roads and other infrastructure.

He added that every area of Shaheed Benazirabad was badly affected, however, daur taluka reported heavy loss so it was declared a calamity-hit area.

“The Sindh government on a priority basis is trying to send rain-hit people to their homes after completing drainage work of accumulated rain water, however around 135,000 people had displaced out of which around 12,000 disaster-hit people were living in relief camps established by district administration.”