June 28, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 12, 1428

THATTA, June 27: Braving gigantic waves of the Arabian Sea a fisherman identified as Abdul Rasheed Nohrio drowned near Kajhur Creek in the early hours of Wednesday. His colleagues told journalists that the fishing vessel he was aboard, was heading towards the shore from deep waters in the backdrop of a tropical cyclone as Rashid lost his balance and fell from the small vessel (orhee) into the oceanic water and drowned.

Finding no government support, a large number of fishermen rushed to the sea on small boats to fish out his body.

Meanwhile, agriculture, particularly banana, vegetable, paan and paddy crop were affected in the coastal belt.

About 2,00 kutcha and semi-kutcha houses have collapsed in Thatta coastal belt due to windstorm and the villagers were still waiting for help under open sky.

Meanwhile, Director- General of Health Services Sindh, Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi, claimed that the life was returning to normalcy in Thatta coastal belt which was disrupted due to windstorm and pre-monsoon rains for the last four days.

Talking to journalists at Circuit House Makli after inspecting health facilities and emergency centres at coastal towns of Keti Bunder, Baghan, Kharochhan and its suburbs, Dr Jatoi said

16 medical teams, eight mobile teams and 29 emergency centres equipped with medicine and staff were deployed inn the coastal areas.

Meanwhile, directorate of construction and maintenance Hesco, Hyderabad, has initiated re-erection work of dozens of 11kv poles which were either uprooted or fell down during the windstorm on Saturday.

Our Badin correspondent adds: Relief camps established in

Badin district were closed at 5pm on Wednesday and the relief articles, including motorboats, vehicles which were brought in to meet any eventuality, were returned to concerned agencies as the weather conditions improved.

Meanwhile, District Nazim of Badin, Ali Anwar Halepoto, said that contingency plan prepared to combat flood/rains and cyclone would remain intact and the officials would remain alert till the end of current monsoon spell.