September 19, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 18, 1429

SUKKUR, Sept 18: A dust storm followed by torrential rain uprooted trees, signboards and hoardings in a number of towns and adjoining areas in the upper Sindh late on Wednesday night.

The dust-storm and rain lashed Sukkur, Rohri, Salehpat, Ali Wahan, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Khairpur and Moenjodaro during the midnight of Wednesday and Thursday.

In Sukkur, heavy dust storm hit the city at about 2:30 am, causing supply of power to suspend and uprooting many trees and signboards. Strong winds blew away roofs of many straw-thatched huts but there were no reports of any casualty or eventuality from any part of the district.

The dust-storm was soon followed by light showers, which became heavy in minutes, turning the sizzling hot weather into a breezy pleasant one.

Heavy dust storm coupled with torrential rain hit Jacobabad and its adjoining areas during the midnight of Wednesday and Thursday, uprooting many trees and dozens of hoardings. There was no report of any loss of life or injury from any part of the district.

In Shikarpur, heavy rain lashed the city followed by strong winds. Power went off with the first drop of rain touching the earth and it was restored after about five hours.

In Khairpur, heavy rain lashed the district during midnight of Wednesday and Thursday and continued for about three hours. It caused power supply to suspend and the drainage system to collapse due to power outage.

Power came on the next day at 10 am, being one of the longest power breakdown the district in months.

The rain badly affected seasonal crops including cotton and sugarcane. Rain also hit Moenjodaro and its adjoining areas.