June 24, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 08, 1428

THATTA, June 23: Heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds uprooted trees and signboards, ripped away roofs of houses and snapped upelectricity wires in many parts of the province on Saturday.

In Thatta, heavy rains and strong winds felled trees on roads, ripped away roofs of a number of poultry farms and houses and destroyed newly sown paddy seedlings in the city and several towns of the district on Saturday afternoon.

Many trees fell on the Mirpur Bathoro bypass blocking the traffic for hours.

For many it provided a pleasant respite from the extreme heat the district was experiencing for a couple of days.

Till the filing of this report rain continued intermittently in Thatta, Sujawal, Mirpur Bathoro, Jhoke Sharif and coastal towns Chuhar Jamali and Jati.

BADIN: A moderate wind storm followed by slightly heavy downpour on Saturday ended a weeklong spell of extreme heat, multiplied by frequent power breakdowns, in the district and its adjoining areas.

The windstorm started in the noon and continued for about 40 minutes uprooting a number of signboards and billboards.

There were some reports of wall collapse from different parts of the city and its adjoining towns but without any casualties. The sky had been overcast since morning and people rushed out of their homes onto the streets with the first drops of rain.

MIRPURKHAS: Heavy rains with strong winds hit the city and its adjoining areas on Saturday uprooting a number of signboards and trees at different places.

Mirpurkhas, Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Tando Jan Mohammad, Jhuddo, Naukot, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Sindhri, Khaan, Umerkot, Sufi, Pithoro, Shadi Palli, Samaro, Kunri, Jhillori received heavy rain.

Power supply suspended with the first drop of rain and strong winds snapped up electricity wires at different places.

The district government declared emergency in the concerned departments in view of forecast of more heavy rains by metrological department.

HYDERABAD: Dust-storm followed by light rains hit the city and its adjoining towns and villages on Saturday disrupting the entire civic life.

As usual, power supply remained erratic during the rains and several complaints about shortage of drinking water were received from many localities of the city.

The sky is heavily overcast and it is likely to rain again during the night. The district government has imposed rain emergency following weather forecasts by met department and cancelled leaves of relevant staff.

MITHI: Thar desert received its first moderate rain on Saturday heralding a pleasant change in the weather of this rain-dependent region.

Reports reaching from different talukas of Tharparkar district said that it rained in Chelhar, Mithi, Islamkot, Diplo and their adjoining areas.

Farmers said that though the rain was moderate they could still plough their fields but they needed at least three such rains with an interval of a month to be able to cultivate crops.

SANGHAR: Dust storm followed by light rain lashed the city and its adjoining areas and uprooted trees and electricity poles in Jhol, Sinjhoro and Tando Adam areas plunging hundreds of villages and small towns in darkness.

Many trees fell on the main roads, which disrupted vehicular traffic. Highway staff and police personnel were busy removing fallen trees from the roads till the filing of this report.

Roof of a peasant’s home blew away in Zarinabad village but the inmates remained unhurt.

Power went off at 3pm and was partially restored at about 8:45pm in the city.