June 13, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 08, 1429

KHAIRPUR, June 12: Dust storm followed by rain paralysed life in Khairpur city and other parts of the district on Wednesday night. In Khairpur city, dust storm followed by rain continued for more than one hour and broke heat spell. Youngsters and other people came out on roads and streets and enjoyed the change in the weather.

However, vehicular traffic was affected on the National Highway and other roads. Signboards of shops and offices were uprooted. Telephone and electricity systems remained disturbed in the district.

In the rural areas of the district, lemons and mangos which are at maturity point fell from trees due to heavy dust storm. The owners of date palms said that dust storm had badly affected date palm orchards. The farmers of Kingri and Gambat talukas were happy over downpour because it would benefit banana orchards.

The growers of Faiz Ganj and Kotdiji talukas distributed sweets as they had been facing unavailability of irrigation water.

Kotdiji, Gambat, Sobhodero and Faiz Ganj taluka were affected by the dust storm. Moderate downpour was reported in other parts of the district.