HYDERABAD: Heavy rain coupled with hailstorm and gusty winds lashed Hyderabad and Jamshoro for over 30 minutes, inundating main roads and low-lying areas and leading to power outage which began two hours before Iftar.

There was no report of rain from Hyderabad’s neighbouring districts of Tando Allahyar, Tando Mohammad Khan and Matiari The rain started at around 5pm and continued for over 30 minutes before slowing to a drizzle sprinkling until Iftar. Rainwater accumulated on Thandi Sarak, Gari Khata, various parts of Qasimabad, Cantonment graveyard road, Liaquat Colony, Kohinoor chowk, Goods Naka, Qazi Qayoom road, Hali road and the road leading to Gharib Nawaz bridge after the heavy downpour while strong winds uprooted a number of trees and blew away some signboards.

Power broke down in the wake of the rain in all main areas of the city after electricity supply was affected to 70 feeders of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company. The inclement weather disturbed 220kv circuit of Jamshoro which had a ripple effect on Phulelli, Latifabad and NTPS grid stations, said Hesco spokesman Sadiq Kubar.

He said that 40 feeders were still shut for safety reasons. Transmission system was being checked and restored gradually while authorities had shut Qasimabad and Hala Naka grids’ feeders over safety concerns, he said.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2021