Islamabad, Sept 10, IRNA -- Torrential rain has pounded several cities in the country, especially in southern Punjab and adjoining areas of Balochistan, claiming at least 40 lives, local media reported on Monday

The rain-causing system that centred over lower Punjab and played havoc there has now moved on to eastern Sindh, generating fears of devastation in that region as well as in north-eastern Balochistan on Monday and Tuesday.

The Met Office said the system would start losing its strength after two days.

Rainwater has washed away embankments of canals in Rahimyar Khan, Multan and Vehari, inundating vast tracts of agricultural land and damaging crops.

The worst-hit was southern Punjab’s Khanpur town. It received 199mm of rain. Its average rainfall for the month is just 14.6mm. Rain in the town caused urban flooding and damaged crops, especially of cotton. Damage to mango plants was also reported.

The Met department forecast widespread thunderstorm and rain, with scattered heavy to very heavy falls followed at times by a downpour, in Sindh, Zhob, Kalat, Sibi and Nasirabad divisions of Balochistan, and Bahawalpur and Multan.

Meanwhile flood water entered Dera Ghazi Khan city on Monday after breach occurred in DG Khan Canal. According to sources, half of the city submerged under flood water.

Residents of low-lying areas faced difficulties after the accumulation of two to three feet of water in the area.

Thousands of residents started to move to safer places. The residents also staged protest against delay in rescue operation in their areas.

The District Hospital was also evacuated after flood water entered the hospital. The patients were shifted to other nearby hospitals.

In Balochistan, Qila Saifullah, the worst affected region, was cut off from rest of the province after a long portion of the main highway linking it with Quetta and other parts of the country was washed away.

According to official sources, around 100 mud houses were either destroyed or damaged in the district. Hundreds of homeless took shelter in government buildings.

Rainwater flowing in from mountains damaged several houses in the city.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority launched rescue and relief work in the affected areas.

Pakistan suffered the worst flooding in its 65-year history in 2010. Floodwaters inundated one-fifth of the country and killed over 1,700 people. Over 20 million people were affected.