HYDERABAD: Torrential rains caused widespread devastation in Hyderabad, Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Tando Mohammad Khan, Jamshoro, Mirpurkas, Badin and Tharparkar districts of Sindh on Tuesday. Intermittent spells of moderate to heavy showers continued till the evening.

A large number of structures and houses collapsed and standing crops over thousands of acres were destroyed. Most urban and rural areas in the districts were under one to two feet of water as the drainage system collapsed. The rains badly hit the power distribution network across the region, rendering many areas without electricity for five to 12 hours.

At least nine people were killed in rain-related incidents, including collapse of houses and electrocution. A man and a woman were electrocuted while 19 people were injured when their houses collapsed in Hyderabad.

Know more: Nine die as heavy rains continue to batter interior of Sindh

Two children were killed in Tando Mohammad Khan. Seventeen people, including women and children, were injured when their houses collapsed in Bulri Shah Kareem and Tando Ghulam Haider tehsils.

MITHI: The drought-hit Tharparkar region received long spells of heavy rain for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday, leaving most of its towns and farmlands flooded. Tharparkar DC Khuda Dino Shoro appealed to the authorities to send boats to rescue people stranded in low-lying areas of Mithi town, including its Siran locality.

Most of the roads connecting Mithi and other towns of Thar with Badin, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot were washed away. According to officials, Mithi and some other areas of the district have so far received about 370mm of rain. Boats have been sent to rescue people from submerged areas of Thar, which otherwise remains dry.

BADIN: Torrential rains continued to play havoc in almost all parts of Badin district. Two people, including a minor boy, lost their lives after walls of their mud-houses collapsed. An eight-year-old boy, Vikiyo Bohar, was killed in Mour Khan village, near Talhar town, after lightning struck him.

Drains built for carrying rainwater into the Arbian Sea developed big breaches at 10 points, inundating more than 300 villages in Pangrio, Seerani, Tando Bago, Kario Ghanwar and some other places. The Left Bank Outfall Drain was flowing at a danger level at several points because of weak dykes.

THATTA: A man, Mohammad Hassan Shoro, and his son, Zohaib Shoro, lost their lives and seven other members of their community were injured when the roof of their house caved in in Wahid Dino Shoro village during intermittent rain in Thatta for the past three days.

Heavy and moderate rain in Jungshahi and Jhimpir areas of the Khirthar range flooded the National Highway and disrupted inter-city traffic.

Heavy rain also lashed Sujawal district on Tuesday.

The people of Sujawal and Thatta are facing tremendous problems because of prolonged loadshedding.

MIRPURKHAS: Six villages near Jhuddo town in Mirpurkhas district – Shaman Leghari, Manjhi Khan Leghari, Ghulam Mohammad Leghari, Bachal Shah, Ramzan Rind and Mushtaque Memon – were submerged under two to three feet of water.

The villagers were shifted to safe places and a relief camp was set up in Sagheer Colony. About 35 mud-houses collapsed in Ashique Colony, Abid Colony and Riaz Colony in the town.

According to the Met office, Sindh received widespread rains/thundershowers with moderate to isolated very heavy falls over the past 24 hours.

FORECAST: Widespread rain/thundershower with isolated moderate to heavy, at times very heavy falls/gusty winds, are likely to occur in Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Sukkur, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Khairpur, Nawabshah, Thatta, Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan, Hyderabad and Larkana districts on Wednesday.

According to an official at the Met office, thundershower/light to moderate rain is likely at some places in Karachi.

He said widespread rains with a few heavy falls, at times very heavy falls, in Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Hyderabad and Larkana divisions might continue till Thursday. Heavy rains may generate “flash and urban floods in vulnerable areas” and the authorities concerned have been advised to take precautionary measures.

According to the Met office, Mithi received 219 millimetres of rain during the past 24 hours, Badin 178mm, Mirpurkhas 55mm, Hyderabad 49mm, Thatta 32mm, Dadu 22mm, Nawabshah 14mm, Jacobabad 3mm, Sukkur and Rohri 2mm each, Moenjodaro 1mm and Karachi (Gulshan-i-Hadeed 5mm and Sharea Faisal, Nazimabad and North Karachi 1mm each).

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2015

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