Flood kills 19 people in northern Afghan province

Kabul, May 20 (Xinhua-ANI): Heavy rains and flooding claimed the lives of 19 people in Saripul province, 350 km north of capital Kabul Saturday night, a local official said Sunday.

"Nineteen people, including women, men and children, have lost their lives as heavy flood washed away several houses in Saripul provincial capital the Saripul city Saturday night," Sayed Fazlullah Sadat, director of Natural Disaster Management Authority in the province told Xinhua.

Seven more people were injured and six others remained missing, he added, rain is still continuing in parts of the province.

Around 200 people have lost their lives in Saripul and in the neighboring Balkh, Kunduz, Takhar and Baghlan provinces due to rains and flooding over the past month, officials said. (Xinhua-ANI)