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MIRPURKHAS, May 20: Dust storms have caused heavy losses to several crops, including cotton, mango and chilli, in lower Sindh since last week.
The strong winds made many mangoes fall from the trees even before they could become ripe. Cotton and chilli crops too were destroyed.
Life too has been affected due to the dust storms as the bazaars and markets wore a deserted look in Mirpurkhas, Digri, Shadi Palli, Naukot, Mirwah, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Mithi, and Sanghar.
Many cases of diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and sunstroke were being reported from various areas.
SANGHAR: The dust storms are playing havoc with the crops since the last several days.
Thick layers of dust have gathered over the leaves of vegetables and over cotton and sugarcane crops. As a result of this sunlight gets blocked affecting their growth. Besides, the strong winds make mangoes fall from the trees before they are fully ripe.
The unbearable heat, with the temperature often rising to 42 degrees Celsius, and dust storms have made the lives of the people miserable.
Several people suffered sunstroke while working in the blazing heat.
Poultry farmers were badly hit as the mortality rate of hens and chickens has become extremely high forcing many farmers to close down their farms.
A poultry farmer on Shahdadpur Road, near Ghundan, said that due to the hot, dry and strong winds at least 70 per cent of his chickens have died.
Despite all these adverse conditions, the irrigation department has announced a rotation programme for the canals.
SUICIDE: A woman, Bachai Oad, 32, committed suicide at Khahi, near Khipro, on Monday.
Due to sheer poverty, the dejected woman took pesticide and ended her life.
