DADU: A young boy died a roof of his mud-thatched house collapsed in Kachho and a water channel developed a large breach, which inundated standing crops on 5,000 acres and caused five fish ponds to overflow their banks in Sanghar district as heavy rains continued to batter several parts of upper and lower regions of the province on Friday.
In Dadu, Metrological department recorded 38mm rain, which further added to the rainwater from there days of heavy rain flooding the streets and roads in the city.
Dadu municipal committee and Public Health Engineering Department have failed to clear roads and streets of one to three feet rainwater, which have crippled normal life and sparked protests across the city.
Enraged citizens held demonstrations at four places in protest against civic authorities’ failure to drain out rainwater. Power suspension for last 36 hours further exacerbated the problems as it led to closure of water supply to several parts of Dadu and its adjoining areas.
It also rained in Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Johi towns where rainwater accumulated on roads and affected provision of amenities.
Nai Gaj rises to 17 foot after rain
Continuous heavy rain in Khirthar range of mountains raised level of Nai Gaaj Nullah and seven other rain drains to 17 feet, sending a wave of joy through residents of Kachho region who were facing drought-like conditions for a long time.
Overjoyed people gathered at the embankments of FP bund and Nai Gaaj Nullah and broke into dance spontaneously to express their happiness at the rain.
The link roads of Chhini-Tando Rahim Khan, Drigh Bala, Wahi Pandhi, Sawaro and Haji Khan were submerged in rainwater cutting of land link of 300 villages with main towns.
Manchhar Lake rising
Water level in Manchhar Lake has risen to 108.1 feet RL after three days after heavy rain, according to Sher Mallah, in-charge of the lake’s monitoring cell.
Heavy rain caused roof of a mud-thatched house to collapse in Nangar Daryo village in Kachho, killing 10-year-old Atta Khoso. In another incident, seven family members suffered injuries when roof of their house fell on them in Radhan town.
It also rained heavily in Jamshoro, Kotri, Nooriabad, Thana Bula Khan, Thana Ahmed, Sehwan and Bhan Syed Abad.
Khadhar Shakh develops breach
Khadhar Shakh in Sanghar district developed 30-foot wide breach, inundating crops of cotton and vegetables on 5,000 acres and causing five fish ponds to overflow their banks.
Affected growers complained that irrigation department officials did not reduce water flows into the channel even during heavy rain, which subsequently led to the breach. They said the water from the breach was advancing to more agricultural land but irrigation officials had not yet reached the area to plug the breach.
It also rained heavily in Sanghar, Naushahro Feroze and Shaheed Benazirabad districts and their towns of Moro, Pad Eidan, Kandyaro, Mehrabpur, Kazi Ahmed, Daulatpur, Sakrand, Nawabshah, Tando Adam and Shahdadpur.
Strong winds uproot trees in Thatta
Heavy to moderate rain continued to lash several parts of Thatta and Sujawal districts, filling up all low-lying areas, roads and streets in the twin coastal districts. Strong winds coupled with rain uprooted an specified number of trees at many places blocking roads in the coastal areas.
Meanwhile, the dead body of a young boy, who was among the nine miners retrieved dead from a flooded coalmine in Jhimpir area is still untraceable as the deep entrance of the mine was still blocked by rainwater.
Tharis overjoyed at continuous rain
Heavy rain continued to lash Umerkot, Kunri, Samaro, Dhoronaro and their adjoining areas, inundating all low-lying areas and filling up depressions with rainwater.
The abundant rainwater has brought smiles to faces of livestock breeders and growers, who have started cultivating their rain-soaked land to sow traditional crops.
Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2022
