The death toll from heavy rains and thunderstorms that have lashed Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi has increased to 228, an official said today.

A gas explosion at a building housing an ice cream factory in eastern Pakistan early today killed at least 25 people and injured 20, police and rescue officials said.

Eighteen people were killed and 20 more wounded when gas cylinders stored in the basement of a building exploded in eastern Pakistan early today, causing the structure to collapse, police said.