Monsoon rains have intensified across the country, throwing life out of gear in many cities.

The heavy to moderate rains lashed many cities from Karachi to Khyber and Gilgit-Baltistan, causing rivers and canals to overflow, inundating low-lying areas.

Light to heavy rains continued intermittently in various parts of Karachi on Wednesday, while in Lahore, low-lying areas were inundated by torrential rain, which started early morning.

Around 107mm of rain was recorded on Airport Road in Lahore.

Thunderstorms also occurred in many Punjab cities, including Lahore, Chichawatni, Sahiwal, Sialkot and Toba Tek Singh.

The water level in nullah Lai has risen to a dangerous level after night-long heavy rains lashed Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Rescue teams continued their search for a father and daughter who were swept away in a rainwater drain in Rawalpindi.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), at least 245 people have died in rain and floods across the country since June 26, including 113 children.

Maximum fatalities happened in Punjab, where 135 people died in rain-related incidents, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (56), Sindh (24) and Balochistan (16).

The NDMA said 602 people were also injured in rain-induced incidents, while 826 houses were damaged, and 203 livestock were killed.

More than 250 tourists stranded in Diamer and Astore areas of Gilgit-Baltistan due to heavy rains were safely evacuated by the Pakistan Army, police and local volunteers.

Tourists stranded on the Skardu-Deosai road have also been shifted to safer places.

Dozens of villages in Punjab and Sindh have been affected due to flooding in the Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab and Sindh rivers, and people were being shifted to safer places in Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Jhang.

The Meteorological Department has issued a Glacier Outburst Flood (GLOF) and landslide alert for Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The rain spell will continue over the coming days, which increases the risk of further flooding, landslides and avalanches in areas such as Chitral, Dir, Gilgit, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Muzaffarabad and Neelum Valley.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed regret over the deaths caused by floods and rains and directed that relief, rescue and rehabilitation work be accelerated in the affected areas, especially in the search for the father and daughter who were swept away in the Lai nullah.

According to the NDMA, 62 rescue operations have so far been conducted across the country, 450 people were shifted to safe places, and 27 relief camps and medical centres were established.

Thousands of rain and flood victims were provided with tents, blankets, food packs and medical assistance, it added.