Firefighters pull a submerged car near Guangqumen Bridge in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2012. Beijing received 117 mm of precipitation on average as of 8 p.m., with a township in the suburban Mentougou district hit by the largest of 345 mm, according to the Beijing Meteorological Bureau. The agency issued its first orange rainstorm alert warning since 2005 Saturday evening as the rain is forecast to last over 20 hours till Sunday morning. (Xinhua/Li Fangyu)

The heaviest rain in 61 years that lashed Beijing Saturday have left at least four people dead and six others injured, local authorities said.

Two people were killed and six others injured as strong winds toppled rooftops in two villages in the city's suburban Tongzhou district, the Beijing Emergency Medical Center said.

The third person, also in Tongzhou, was killed after being struck by lightning. The fourth, head of a police station in suburban Fangshan district died of electric shock from a fallen electric wire in waters while rescuing trapped villagers.

A driver was rushed to hospital after being pulled critically injured out of her car submerged in deep waters under the Guangqumen overpass. Her fate was not immediately known.

Many passersby have joined the efforts to help drag more cars trapped out of the deep waters.

In addition, more than 5,200 residents in several mountainous suburban districts have been relocated to safer places as authorities ordered to brace for potential landslides and flash flood.

Also rescuers have reached the 350 students and 40 teachers trapped at a military training site in Fangshan district by a flash flood.

The students and teachers were in no immediate danger at higher floors and the rescuers have brought them hot water and food. The rescue operation was ongoing.

A river in Fangshan overflowed its banks Saturday night, trapping more than 40 residents in a village. Twenty have been rescued and rescuers are to reach more.

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