The heavy monsoon rain, which started early on July 18, brought much of the city to a standstill as power and communication systems were badly affected and hundreds of people were forced from their homes.

Metrological officials said more rain was due in the next 24 hours in southern Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital.

The dead included five women and four children, police chief Haneef Mohammad Javed said, adding that a seven-month-old infant was among those who peridhsed.

“Four people were electrocuted, two drowned and the rest died as the roofs of their houses caved in,” he said, adding, “We have moved several people to safer places.” The city’s mayor Mustafa Kamal said he had received reports that a number of people had died and dozens been hurt but did not give exact figures.

A senior metrological official in Islamabad said that the overall monsoon rain would be low.

“The total monsoon rains in Pakistan are expected to be 30 percent below normal,” the met office head Qamar-uz-Zaman said.