May 27, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1429

KHAIRPUR, May 26: Dust storm which began in upper Sindh, including Khairpur, two days ago has paralyzed life of people, particularly of hut dwellers as they not only tolerate it but mostly bear loss of their property and wheat stock on account of fire incidents.

Continuous dust storm has equally disrupted the trade and life as students appearing for board and school examinations face immense difficulties due to it.

According to doctors, asthma patients were the worst hit. In Kot Laloo and Faiz Gunj one man died and another received injuries due to the collapse of a wall. The dead and injured were Khalid Umrani and Wali Mohammad Khashkheli, respectively.

In another incident around 20 kutcha houses were completely gutted near Aman Ji Chowdagi and Mohammad Ali Rajpar village when fire broke out on Sunday and on Monday.

Cotton, vegetables, fruits, particularly banana and date palm crops had been badly affected by dust storm and strong winds, said farmers.

In Naushahro Feroze district some 30 houses were reduced to ashes in three villages of taluka Moro on Sunday night.

Reports said that a woman was cooking meal in her house when the dust storm propelled the flames to bring into its ambit the entire house which then spread further engulfing some 29 neighboring homes.

Around 380 wheat bags and other valuable went up in flames in Nasrullah Rahu village. According to villagers they immediately informed the TMA Moro fire brigade which hesitated upon which some people personally went there and persuaded fire brigade to come to the scene. However, fire could not be extinguished due to insufficient water.

Fire broke out in the house of Ali Nawaz Siyal in Dawood Siyal village engulfing nine houses due to which 12 goats, 200 wheat bags and other valuables were lost. The fire brigade could not reach the place.

Twelve wheat bags and other valuables in the house of Sarang Zardari were gutted in Mukriari village near Moro.

Strong winds uprooted three electric poles near Mehran petrol pump, Moro bypass and in Laloo Machhi on Sunday.