Six die as first spell of monsoon showers lash city.

KARACHI -- At least six people were killed in separate incidents on Monday when the first monsoon spell hit Karachi, wreaking havoc on the ill-maintained municipal infrastructure, disrupting electricity for hours and causing traffic jams on almost every major thoroughfare.

The showers brought little respite for the majority of the people of Karachi, who had been braving hot and humid weather conditions for the past several days, including most of Monday as the temperature soared to 40.3 degrees Celsius.

According to the Met Office, Karachi received maximum 40mm of rain, or 1.57 inches, in Saddar, Nazimabad (22mm), Faisal Base (26mm), Masroor Base (12mm), Pehalwan Goth (10mm), Jinnah Terminal (8.8mm), Landhi (3.1), Surjani Town (1.2mm), University Road (0.6mm), Gulshan-i-Hadeed (traces) and North Karachi (traces).

Rain-related deaths

Six persons, including three children, were killed in different rain-related incidents in the city.

Rescuers, police and hospital sources said three-year old Isha Munawwar died when a wall of her house collapsed in Shamsi Society, Malir.

Met Office forecasts light to moderate showers today

In Liaquatabad's Angara Goth, 60-year-old Tajan Razzaq died when a wall of her home collapsed.

In Ibrahim Hyderi, an Edhi Foundation spokesperson said two children were killed and as many injured when a wall of their house collapsed. Umer Din, 9, and Hania Noman, 7, died during treatment at a hospital, while two-month-old Muawia and three-month-old Alwasha were admitted for treatment.

Two persons, later identified as Babar Hussain and Khadim Hussain, were killed when the roof of their house collapsed in Ibrahim Hyderi.

Hot, humid weather to prevail

The Met office has forecast hot and humid weather conditions for the next two days with chances of light to moderate rain.

'Usually, the end of June and beginning of July bring some respite from hot weather as the monsoon heralds with partial clouds and sea breeze. This time, however, a low pressure area, lying over southern parts of Sindh including Karachi, is influencing weather conditions,' said city weatherman Sardar Sarfaraz.

The system, also blocking the sea breeze, would likely die out by Wednesday afternoon either in the Arabian Sea or by moving towards Oman, he added.

'Monday was also hot because of the north/westerly dry winds that raised the temperature further,' he said.

Explaining why the city had been so hot and humid for the past several days, Mr Sarfaraz said earlier...