Heavy rains hit Pakistan’s south as monsoon death toll rises to 209

Villagers wade through flood area caused by heavy monsoon rains near Sohbat Pur, an area of Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province (AP)

Flash floods triggered by monsoon rains swept through streets in southern Pakistan and blocked a key highway in the north, officials said on Monday, as the death toll from rain-related incidents rose to 209 since July 1.

Fourteen people have died across Punjab province in the past 24 hours, said Irfan Ali, an official at the provincial disaster management authority.