MITHI: Heavy to moderate rain continued to lash Thar, Badin and several other areas of lower Sindh region on Friday, bringing long-awaited relief to desert dwel­lers and displacing many others in coastal villages.

The rainfall in Nagar­parkar, Mithi, Islamkot and other parts of Thar has brought back joy to the face of drought-stricken desert people as the rain has been more abundant this year than many previous years.

Thari families who had migrated to barrage areas to escape drought have started coming back to their homes and hearths along with herds of cattle and farmers have begun preparing their land for cultivation of traditional crops.

They hope the current spell of rains will continue for some days to let the land soak up water and store it for the weeks and months to come.

The scenic Karoonjhar mountain and its adjacent hills have worn a cover of green with streamlets flowing downhill after heavy rains. It was still raining heavily in many areas when this report was filed.

BADIN: Heavy rain with thunderstorm battered Badin and its adjoining towns of Tando Bago, Tal­har, Matli, Pangrio, Shadi Large, Khoski, Kadhan and nearby areas in the morning and evening, inundating low-lying areas.

The rain washed away crops of tomato and chilli in some areas, inflicting heavy losses on farmers.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2017