MITHI: Two women were killed and two men of a family were injured when they were hit by lightning in a Thar village as heavy rains battered entire drought-hit region, Badin, Hyderabad and many areas of lower Sindh late on Wednesday and Thursday evening.

Haleema Bajeer, 30, and Zubeda Bajeer, 20, were killed and Samad Bajeer and Abdullah were injured when lightning struck their home in Chhapar Khoso village near Dahli town in Thar. The injured were taken to nearby hospital.

The moderate to heavy rain battered Mithi, Islam­kot, Nagarparkar, Chelhar, Chhachhro, Kaloi and their adjacent areas as well Badin district.

It rained moderately in Badin, Tando Bago, Golarchi, Talhar, Matli, Rajo Khanani, Tando Ghulam Ali, Khoski, Pangrio, Shadi Large, Kadhan, Seerani, Kario Ghanwar, Khorwah and their adjoining areas while Mirwah Canal developed a 20-foot breach at RD-36, inundating nearby fields.

In Hyderabad, 30-minute moderate rains in the city on Wednesday caused almost 12-hour long power breakdown which badly hampered water supply and sewerage facilities.

Power distribution network of the Hyderabad Elec­tric Supply Company could not withstand even 24mm of rains as recorded by meteorological department. Frequent tripping and erratic power supply continued throughout the day.

Forecast of more rains is a nightmare scenario for civil administration and Wasa authorities as officers concerned visited different parts of the city to ensure speedy disposal of rainwater from roads and low-lying areas.

As three major canals on Kotri barrage’s left bank into which the civic authorities disposed of sewage were flowing to the brim because of rains, making it difficult to release rainwater into the canals.

The breakdown which paralysed the entire disposal and water supply system hit the city around 4.45pm on Wednesday and the system was normalised only in small hours of Thursday.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2016