June 22, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 06, 1428

HYDERABAD, June 21: Strong winds accompanied by rain hit Sindh on Thursday as five people, three women and two men, died in rain-related incidents. In Hyderabad two women died and six received injuries on Thursday due to rain and winds. Rain also caused power breakdowns in city and surrounding areas.

Police said Ropa and Janjo got killed when a wall of under-construction school collapsed in Nangwar Wassan village, near Tandojam. In another incident, 55-year old Faiz Bano wife of Khuda Bux died when the wall of her house collapsed in Rasheed Colony Tandojam.

Two people received injuries on Mirpurkhas Road and an old man in Faqir Ka Pir area due to falling of signboard. Amir and Khawar received injuries in Khokhar Mohallah during construction work.

Several areas remained without power when the story was being filed. The drizzle broke the heat spell bringing temperature down to 29.7 centigrade. The dust storm hit the city at 5.15pm and continued till 6pm at the speed of 60 nautical miles. During first 10 minutes its speed was 60 nautical mils then reduced to 45.

Rain continued intermittently with the Meteorological Department recording only 0.5 millimetres at the airport.

Hesco officials were not available to share detail of power outages. The electricity shutdown and dust-storm also brought business activities to halt in main commercial and business centres.

Even before breakdown, power supply had been erratic earlier in the day. Several parts of Hyderabad, Latifabad, Qasimabad and interior pockets were badly affected by the electricity.

Water supply from Wasa reservoirs was also affected.

Power breakdown occurred at around 4pm and no official was available to inform when it will be restored.

There were in 11 KV supply from the NTDC on Mirpurkhas line and Jamshoro but power was restored after one hour.

Rain resulted in slime and slush on main roads while driving in areas where sewerage and drainage work was in progress became difficult leading to chaotic traffic conditions. Even streets remained blocked with traffic.

Our Mirpurkhas correspondent adds: Following week long heat spell, rainfall with heavy dust and wind storm hit Mirpurkhas at 4pm.

Dozens of sign-boards and trees were uprooted. Rain continued for half an hour. Low lying areas were inundated under rainwater which also accumulated on main roads and streets. Power was suspended in districts Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkar.

The areas which received wind and thunderstorm were Mirpurkhas, Mirwah, Digri, Tando Jan Mohammad, Jhuddo, Naokot, Khan, Jhilori, Sindhri, Sofi Faqeer, Umerkot, Samaro, Kunri, Pithoro, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, etc. Growers expressed happiness and termed the rain beneficial for crops in view of persistent water shortage in districts Umerkot and Mirpurkhas. Power supply could not be restored till filing of this report.

Our Khairpur correspondent adds: Two people died in Khairpur due to rain and windstorm. One Deedar died when wall of his house collapsed, while another villager Asif Khan expired when a tree fell on him in Thari Mirwah Taluka.

A hut in Ghulam Mustafa village collapsed injuring six people, including two women and two children.

Sobhodero, Ranipur, Agra, Saghiyoon and Tando Masti Khan received rain after which weather became pleasant. Abadgars welcomed the first monsoon rain as it would benefit cotton, sugarcane and other seasonal crops.

However, power breakdown for six hours in these areas affected the normal life. On the other hand, more than 30 mohallas of Khairpur city remained without electricity for about five hours on Thursday.

Rain storm also hit Thari Mirwah and Faiz Ganj Talukas and their adjoining areas.