June 20, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 15, 1429

SIALKOT, June 19: A heavy dust storm coupled with torrential rain lashed Sialkot and Narowal districts on Thursday.

The rain paralysed the civic life while strong winds uprooted dozens of trees that hampered traffic on Sialkot-Daska-Gujranwala Road, Sialkot-Pasrur Road, Sialkot-Sambrial-Wazirabad Road and Pasrur-Narowal Road.

Several utility poles failed to fight the strong windstorm which resulted in the suspension of power supply for several hours in many urban and rural areas, including Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehsils. The communication system was also badly affected.

The rain started in the wee hours of Thursday and continued the whole day, inundating low-lying areas in both districts.

The first major monsoon shower also exposed the

‘arrangements’ made by the Sialkot TMA as all main city arteries, including Kutchery Road, Paris Road, Abbot Road, Jail Road, Railway Road, Mujahid Road, Commissioner Road, Allama Iqbal Chowk, Khadim Ali Road, Airport Road and Hajipura Road gave a look of streams.

The choked sewerage system also added to the people’s problems.