MIRPURKHAS: Moderate to heavy rain battered most of the lower and central Sindh region on Thursday night and Friday, breaking several days of severe heat spell and bringing a pleasant change in the weather condition.

In Mirpurkhas, the downpour hit the city and adjoining towns of the district on Friday night after sizzling heat spell.

The heat-weary town residents celebrated the rain forgetting the fact that the rainwater inundated on main roads and streets and worsened insanitary conditions.

There were no sanitary workers in sight to ensure the streets were cleared of rainwater. Power supply also went off as soon as it began to rain.

Growers expressed joy at the rainfall which was badly needed for standing cotton and vegetable crops.

It also rained lightly in Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Jhuddo, Tando Jan Mohammad, Naukot, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Jhilori, Sindhri, Hingorno, Phuladiyyoon and Khaan towns of Mirpurkhas district. The rain did not cause any damage in any part of the district.

Lightning kills man in Thar

A man died after lightning struck his house in Walji Colony of Islamkot town during light to moderate showers across the Tharparkar region.

Several areas of Nagaparkar, Chhachhro, Dahli, Islamkot, Mithi, Diplo and Kaloi taluka were again blessed with bounteous showers.

Thari farmers had already sown various traditional crops on their farmland after the desert region received downpours when a diluted Biporjoy cyclone passed through Sindh areas last month. The subsequent rainfall have already turned the desert lush green while current spells of showers have added to the beauty of pastures and brought good tidings to Tharis for bumper crops and enough fodder for their livestock.

Rain causes breach in canal

Heavy rain preceded by a dust storm began lashing Badin and other parts of the district at around 9pm on Thursday, causing a number of signboards to fall and a wide breach in Mirwah Canal near Fazal Pathan village early on Friday morning.

People in the coastal towns of Seerani, Bhugra Memon, Golo Mandhro, Ahmed Rajo and Kadhan heaved a sigh of relief after several days of heat spell and welcomed the rain, which lashed the water-starved area and filled its empty canals. However, the rainwater caused a 15-foot wide breach in Mirwah Canal near Fazal Pathan village, which inundated several acres of standing crops.

The villagers plugged the breach after several hours of hectic efforts and accused irrigation department officials of failing to strengthen the vulnerable banks of the canal despite repeated requests made by farmers.

Hill torrents cut off gas supply

Heavy rain continued to lash intermittently Dadu city and its surrounding areas and disrupted gas supply to Thano Bola Khan, Ahmed Khan Mole, Karchat, Sari and adjoining areas after rain-induced hill torrents dislodged pipelines passing over natural rain drains.

“Repair work can be started after water level in the drains drops,” said officials.

It also rained in Daur,

Bandhi, Kazi Ahmed and their adjoining areas.

Published in Dawn, July 22th, 2023