KARACHI, June 29: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has claimed that 89 persons including, women and children, were killed while over 4,000 houses got damaged by the rains and storm that lashed the city on June 23.

“I want to allay the fears regarding the death toll, damages and our measures to normalise the city after the catastrophic storm. Eighty-nine persons died including 60 killed in incidents of wall or roof collapses, 22 due to electrocution and seven people lost their lives after being hit by hoardings,” Mr Kamal told a press conference here on Friday.

Giving an overview the of destruction, he said that some 224 built and 868 katcha houses were destroyed completely while 1,122 concrete residences and 868 katcha houses were partially damaged due to the storm and rains in different parts of the city, which also left 560 people injured.

“Despite the fact that there was no prior warning or forecast for one of the worst storms, the city government started relief activities within no time, as it was well-prepared to meet any eventuality due to a forecast of heavy rains,” he said.

The city nazim was of the view that it was difficult for any government to fight the destructive forces of nature; however, it was the duty of the authorities to initiate relief activities at the earliest.

He said that measures taken by the city government this year for the expected rains were much better as compared to the previous years due to which rainwater did not accumulate on thoroughfares and link streets.

Mr Kamal said that besides the urban areas, the city government’s rescue teams had also reached the rural areas where relief camps were established and the rain victims were moved to safety.

Some 12 relief camps for the people of the coastal areas were set up while nine camps were established for the victims of urban localities where some 650 people were being provided with food, medicines and shelter, he added.

Mr Kamal maintained that special teams were formed for removing uprooted trees and hoardings from roads irrespective of the jurisdiction issue to clear main roads so as to maintain a smooth flow of vehicular traffic.

With regard to the deaths from falling hoardings, the nazim said that the city government had expressed apprehensions a year ago that in case of any earthquake or storm more people might be killed due to those oversized hoardings. He said that last year the city government had removed 3,423 hoardings and framed new by-laws keeping in view the security of the citizens.

Answering a question as to whether the city government was considering waiving water and sewerage bills for the month of June, the nazim said that no decision had so far been taken in this regard.

Responding to another query, Mr Kamal said that the city government would install generators at all pumping stations and treatment plants to continue work even in case of electricity failures and 40 per cent of the work in this regard had been completed.

He claimed that 99 per cent of the city had been normalised as far as the power supply situation was concerned in the aftermath of rains but would take two more days to attain normality in Gadap where some 140 electric poles were dismantled.

The nazim also appreciated the role of Rangers in maintaining a smooth flow of traffic by helping the traffic police.