MITHI: Many areas of the Tharparkar region received the heaviest spells of the ongoing monsoon on Monday afternoon while parts of Badin, Sanghar and Mirpurkhas districts also received heavy rainfall in the evening.

Telecommunication, electricity and road communication in Tharparkar was severely crippled and people mostly remained indoors as all business, trade, commercial, educational and other routine activities remained suspended. Highways, arterial roads and streets wore a deserted look as several-foot-high rainwater was everywhere in cities, towns and agricultural fields, while poor visibility made it impossible for people and vehicles to move from one place to the other.

There were reports of collapse of electricity network and crippling of telecommunication links from various parts of Tharparkar, Badin and Sanghar as many pylons and poles carrying electricity and telephone cables were uprooted and electricity feeders shut down by the downpour.

It was raining in all the three districts when the last reports came in late in the evening.

People reported sound of lightning at many places in Tharparkar but details could not be collected due to crippled telecommunication network.

The downpour and flooding is feared to have destroyed tomato, chilli and other crops.

In Mirpurkhas, nine buffaloes were electrocuted when 11,000 kV high-tension line fell on a herd during rainfall near Phuladdyyoon town of Sindhri taluka.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2017