Monsoons and floods in Pakistan's Karachi leave 17 dead

Almost 2 centimetres of rain fell, triggering problems with the city's dilapidated infrastructure

A family wades through a flooded street caused by heavy monsoon rains, in Karachi, Pakistan. Monsoon rains have inundated much of Pakistan, leaving large parts of the southern city of Karachi underwatShow more

Seventeen people have been killed and large parts of Pakistan's southern city of Karachi have been left underwater following monsoon rains on Sunday.

The downpour and flooding began overnight, with authorities reporting almost 2 centimetres of rainfall in Karachi.

A rescue official told the Associated Press that seven people have been electrocuted and three died when a roof collapsed.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday announced the drafting of a comprehensive package to end the decades-long neglect of the city after national outcry at the deaths, caused by infrastructure that was unable to cope with the rain.

Citizens were urged to stay away from electric poles and wires, in light of multiple deaths caused by electrocution.

Pakistan struggles to cope with the yearly monsoon season  from July to September and causes flooding across South Asia.

India also experienced flooding following heavy rains this week, and elsewhere in Asia a landslide caused by rain killed 34 in Myanmar and at least 18 were killed as Typhoon Lekima hit China.

The death toll from floods in the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra rose to 147, state authorities said on Sunday, as rescue teams raced to evacuate people and floodwaters submerged parts of a world heritage site.

Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to take shelter in relief camps, while train services were cancelled in several flood-hit areas.

In the southern state of Kerala, at least 57 people were killed in rain-related incidents while more than 165,000 people were in relief camps in the state.