Six killed as 'abnormal' rains refuse to relent.

ISLAMABAD -- Citizens across the country endured another spell of 'abnormal' monsoon rains on Sunday as heavy downpour claimed six lives - three in Karachi - and caused urban flooding in major cities and flash floods in mountainous regions, putting several villages at risk of inundation.

In order to mitigate the impact of the downpour, the Sindh chief minister declared the latest spell a 'natural calamity' and announced a holiday in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions on Monday (today) in order to 'meet the emergency-like situation' stemming from excessive rainfall in the province, especially in the provincial capital.

Still reeling from the previous spell that had brought life to a standstill in the city, Karachi received a record deluge - up to 142 millimetres - that resulted in the death of three people, due to electrocution, and urban flooding in neighbourhoods across the provincial city.

Read: Karachi's crumbling infrastructure has made rain a bane for its residents

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two people - one each in Dera Ismail Khan and Lower Dir - were killed and 10 injured as a result of a heavy downpour that resulted in floods whereas a boy was killed in Lahore in a rain-related incident.

As residents from remote parts pointed out the apathy of government officials, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to assist the provincial governments and the departments concerned, PM's Office media wing said in a press release. The prime minister urged the elected representatives to 'supervise the rescue and relief activities launched by the relevant departments', said a statement.

Sindh

In Sindh, Karachi fared worst as rain lashed the city throughout the evening turning its streets and major arteries into canals.

Many underpasses in Karachi remained submerged and closed for vehicular traffic, while Karachi University and the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi also cancelled exams scheduled for Monday (today) in light of the rain forecast.

Similarly, a breach in Hub Canal caused panic in Surjani Town and Manghopir localities.

In Hyderabad, heavy downpour brought most parts of the city to a halt. The rain started in the wee hours of Sunday and continued till 7:30 pm intermittently. The Met department predicted more rain as dark clouds covered the city sky.

A second spell of the rain which lasted for over an hour proved disastrous as it brought life to a standstill and forced markets to suspend...