HYDERABAD, July 5: Several parts of Sindh received heavy rains which were accompanied by storm on Wednesday evening.

It started raining in Hyderabad at 4:45pm and continued for 30 minutes without break.

A duststorm of 45 to 50 nautical miles per hour speed also hit the city, leading to a power breakdown in Hyderabad and its adjoining areas.

Massive power breakdowns were also reported from other parts of the district.

Till the filing of the report power supply was not restored to a large portion of the city.

The rains brought a pleasant change in the weather as mercury dropped to 27 degrees Centigrade after the rains.

Earlier, the meteorological department had recorded the temperature at 43 Celsius with 30 degree Centigrade as the day’s minimum.

The airport office of the meteorological department recorded 15mm of rains while in the city it was 26mm.

The rainwater accumulated in the Cantonment area, Saddar, Defence Housing Society and Civil Lines.

The situation was worse in low-lying areas of Liaquat Colony, Noorani Basti, Hala Nako and Kari Mori.

All the main roads were submerged in rainwater.

It is learnt that a fault had developed in power supply lines from the gas turbine power station and 550KV Jamshoro grid station which caused the electricity shutdown.

The erratic power supply had made lives of people miserable in the city who had been facing severe hardships in sizzling heat as temperature was recorded between 40 and 45 degrees Centigrade over the last few days.

Business activities were badly affected throughout the day and roads wore a deserted look as people preferred to remain indoors.

Children come out on the roads to enjoy rains in evening.

The water supply to the city has been suspended since the electricity breakdown at old and new filter plants as well as settlement tanks of the Water and Sanitation Agency in Hussainabad, Latifabad-4 and Hala Nako.

The duststorm uprooted electricity poles and trees on the roads.

Wasa officials said that the power supply situation would remain bad till Thursday because of non-supply of electricity at water reservoirs while Hesco was unable to say when electricity was going to be restored.

Officials said that generators purchased by the district government had not been made functional for want of some accessories and proper installation.

The generators were purchased to ensure uninterrupted supply of water to citizens even on account of power breakdown.

Chances of rains could not be ruled in the night.

Our Mirpurkhas correspondent adds: Three people were injured in rain-related incidents on Wednesday.

After two weeks of sizzling heat, rains with windstorm brought a pleasant change in weather.

Trees and signboards were uprooted at different places.

The power supply was disconnected to city and other areas of district. The people welcomed rain.

In some areas youths danced and enjoyed rains which continued for 20 minute.

The rainwater accumulated on roads and streets.

Low-lying areas were inundated under rainwater.

The rains brought a sigh of relief to people including growers who were facing acute shortage of irrigation water.

The water supply was disrupted due to non-supply of power.

Our Nawabshah correspondent adds: The district received dust storm followed by intermittent rains on Wednesday.

The storm started at about 3:30pm and uprooted a number of trees, hoardings and signboards.

The vehicular traffic came to halt and power supply was suspended to many areas which was not restored till filing of the report.

Weather became pleasant as people heaved a sigh of relief.

ADMISSIONS: The University of Sindh has announced schedule for admissions to BHPE and MHPE classes for the academic session of 2006-07.