HYDERABAD: Widespread rains with thunder lashed almost the entire Sindh on Sunday turning weather across the province pleasant but causing collapse of drainage system, considerable damage to electricity distribution network and severe disruption of the routine life.

A half-an-hour downpour pounded Hyderabad, Matiari, Tando Mohammed Khan, Jamshoro and Tando Allahyar districts in the afternoon which was followed by intermittent spells of light rains continuing into the night. Most areas of the five districts experienced a power outage of up to five hours. Business and commercial activities stopped and shops closed when people got back anticipating flash floods. No customers were seen in bazaars and markets in the second half of the day.

Also read: Relief operation continues in flood-hit Chitral as death toll reaches 31

No casualty or remarkable loss of property was reported from any part of the districts.

SUKKUR: Heavy rainfall lashed Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kandhkot-Kashmore, Ghotki and other districts of upper Sindh at around 8:30am disrupting the routine life in urban areas and inundating thousands of acres of farmlands.

Power supply in the district was suspended as soon as it started raining and could not be restored in many areas till the evening.

Rainwater flooded highways and roads disrupting flow of vehicular traffic, which gradually came to a standstill. While rainwater accumulated everywhere in the rural areas, streets and lanes in all towns remained submerged and turned deserted.

Electricity went off at about 8.30am across the region and was switched on at 2.30pm but many areas remained without power due to localised faults and break­downs.

KHAIRPUR: All towns and rural areas of Khairpur district received the season’s first downpour at about 9am on Sunday.

A two-hour spell of heavy rain turned the entire district into a lake as power went off shutting down the drainage system.

Highways, arteries and roads remained under rainwater till the evening though pumping at drainage and sewerage installations was started in the afternoon.

Food, vegetable, milk and other supplies were disrupted due to flooded roads.

Rainwater also made its way into houses and commercial outlets in the low-lying areas.

The downpour badly affected the date-palm orchards spread over thousands of acres in Khairpur, Gambat, Kot Diji and Kingri talukas. Life in the district remained paralysed throug­hout the day.

NAWABSHAH: Nawabshah city and other towns of Shaheed Benazirabad district received a moderate spell of rain on Sunday turning the weather pleasant.

DADU: Dadu and Jamshoro districts received a heavy spell of rainfall which was followed by several light spells during the day.

Rainwater accumulated in urban areas causing hardship to commuters and pedestrians while low-lying areas like Taj Colony, Bhangwar Colony and Azeem Colony in Nawabshah city rem­ained submerged till the evening.

The rain also disrupted power supply in most areas of the district.

The power distribution system as well as telecommunication and road communication networks were badly affected by the rain. Dadu, Johi, Mehar, Khairpur Nathanshah, Bhan Syedabad and Sehwan experienced a nine-hour power outage.

Roads, streets and lanes could not be cleared of rainwater till late in the evening.

A crack in the main tomb of the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine exposed the interior to the rain as it allowed a considerable amount of water into the main courtyard causing hardship to the present devotees.

Faulty drain lines also caused sewage accumulation inside and around the shrine.

BADIN: The entire Badin district received heavy to moderate spells of rain intermittently throughout the day on Sunday.

Roads and streets in Badin city, Tando Bago, Talhar, Pangrio, Nindo Shahar, Khoski, Shadi Large, Malkani Sharif and other towns remained submerged the drainage system did not work. The rain also caused disruption in power supply across the district.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2015

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