HYDEABAD: A strong wind storm coupled with light rain and lightning swept through Hyderabad and its adjoining districts briefly disrupting the routine life and causing damage to electricity network.

It hit Hyderabad city at 7:55pm and persisted for about 25 minutes before travelling eastwards to hit Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar and Tando Mohammad Khan districts.

According to the Met office in Karachi, the speed of the wind storm was 30 nautical miles. It said that the storm was basically a ‘wind-bearing system’ which could cause drizzle. It added that a ‘rain-bearing system’ might visit Hyderabad on Monday.

“This wind storm had westerly component; drizzle was reported in the city, which is likely to receive a better rainfall along with its adjoining areas after two days,” said a Met official.

The storm disrupted power supply in various districts of the region, according to a spokesman for the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco).

The winds uprooted many trees.

Like almost all parts of Sindh, Hyderabad district also had been experiencing severe heat for several days.

On May 30, mercury had shot up to 45.5 degree Celsius – the highest in recent weeks. Invariably, the highest temperature over the last few days had been recorded at 43 to 44.5 degree Celcius. However, it slightly dropped on Saturday, when it was recorded at 41.5 degree Celsius with 88pc humidity (the amount of moisture in the air).

The Hesco spokesman said that although no major damage to the electricity network was reported from any area, patrolling by the field staff was under way to check the system.

He said that the disruption caused in the transmission and supply was because of many circuits of 500kVA having been tripped due to the storm.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2025