DADU: Seven people, three among them children, were killed as roofs of many houses caved in on inmates in different parts of Dadu district while an unspecified number of signboards were blown away and trees were uprooted in Sukkur, Jacobabad and Mirpurkhas districts when heavy rain and strong winds pounded the areas late on Saturday night and Sunday.

In a locality near bypass in Mehar town, three cousins identified as Ahmed Kolachi, 12, Abdul Nabi and Bilawal Kolachi died and their relative Shumaila suffered injuries as roof of Ashraf Soomro’s house collapsed during heavy rain and dust storm.

Mehar SHO Noorul Haq said the injured girl was shifted to Chandka Medical College Hospital in Larkana and the bodies were handed over to relatives after completion of medico-legal formalities at taluka hospital.

In the other incidents, Wazir Rind died in Buxoo Rind village, 20-year-old Razzak was killed in Tharo Shah and Abdul Hafeez Depar died in Ali Nawaz Depar village when roofs of their houses collapsed on them during the heavy downpour. The bodies were taken out from under the debris by relatives.

A seminary student Naeem Channa also died when roof of his mardessah caved in on him in Darya Khan village in Nawabshah district. The victim’s teachers took out the body from the rubble.

SUKKUR: An unspecified number of signboards, electricity cables, solar panels and roofs of thatched houses were blown away and trees were uprooted by strong winds which pounded Pano Akil, Sangi, Rohri, Sukkur, Kandhkot, Jacobabad and Ghotki during heavy rain late on Saturday night.

The sudden rain coupled with lightning and strong winds compelled people to remain indoors as rainwater accumulated in low-laying areas and roads, hampering smooth flow of vehicular traffic.

Power supply went off immediately after the rain in Sukkur and the city remained plunged into darkness from 8.00pm on Saturday till 5.00am on Sunday. The rain, however, broke hot spell and made weather pleasant.

MIRPURKHAS: Heavy rainfall and strong winds blew away several signboards and uprooted many trees in different parts of the city late on Saturday night.

It rained for only 15 minutes but the downpour was so heavy that rainwater accumulated in all low-lying places and on roads.

The sudden rain, however, reduced temperature and made weather pleasant but it also led to suspension of power supply as usual, plunging the city into darkness.

The town’s residents condemned the Hyderabad Electricity Supply Company and raised questions over the company’s ability to perform during rains.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2021