MIRPURKHAS: Widespread rains with thunderstorm hit Murpurkhas, Badin and Tharparkar districts on Sunday bringing down the temperatures and turning weather pleasant after several weeks of scorching heat.

In various towns and villages of Mirpurkhas district, a heavy spell of rain continued for 45 minutes causing inundation of low-lying areas and breakdown of electricity network.

Thoroughfares in the urban areas of the district wore a deserted look during the rainfall as vehicular traffic gradually went off the road and all bazaars, markets, commercial areas, food streets and retail outlets were closed due to the submerging of roads and streets. In some areas, hoardings and signboards were pulled down and trees uprooted by string winds.

No municipality worker was seen anywhere till dust to flush out the rainwater accumulated in most areas of the district to cripple normal life while water and sewerage system stopped functioning to add to people’s miseries.

Mirpurkhas Municipal Corporation officials said that the water and sewerage system in most areas of the district was hit by the four-hour power breakdown. However, there was no improvement in the situation several hours after electricity was restored.

The towns which received rains including Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Tando Jan Mohammed, Jhuddo, Noakot, Kot Ghulam Mohammed, Jhilori, Sindhri, Phuladiyoon, and Hingorno, besides Mirpurkhas city.

BADIN: A long spell of light rain following a dust-storm lashed Badin city, Talhar, Tando Ghulam Ali, Tando Bago, Maurjhar, Rip Sharif, Dei, Kario Ghanwar and many other towns and villages on Sunday.

Although the rainfall provided relief to the people of Badin district from an intense heatwave persisting for a week, the standing paddy crop and stocks of various other reaped crops lying in the open were damaged by the unexpected showers.

In Tharparkar district, Mithi, Diplo, Kaloi, Chhachhro, Islamkot, Nagarparkar and other towns as well as the villages surrounding them received moderate showers for many hours on Sunday and were continuing till last reports came in at around midnight.

Growers believe that the fresh rainfall would be beneficial for the growth of fodder. They recalled that Tharparkar had received torrential rains in July which revitalised the barren lands and also helped contain the drought persisting in the region for the past few years. However, they added, insufficient sunshine in the following weeks caused negligible growth of fodder, an essential commodity for rearing cattle head.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2015

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