SUKKUR: A powerful storm coupled with heavy rainfall and hailstorm swept through Sukkur, Khairpur, Jacobabad, Kandhkot-Kashmore and Ghotki districts on Tuesday.

The sudden change in, otherwise extremely hot, weather conditions forced people to remain indoors. Strong winds blew away several hundred billboards, hoardings, full grown trees, solar panels and roofs of upper storeys in many cities and towns of upper Sindh.

Downpour and windstorm badly disrupted business, trade and commercial activities across the region. Bazaars, markets, shops and vending stalls were closed as customers rushed back to their homes.

Vehicular traffic on the highways and roads had to be parked at safe places leaving the thoroughfares and arteries deserted.

While municipal authorities in the affected cities and towns were assessing the damage caused by the windstorm, growers and farmers in some areas were seen perturbed over the damage caused to their crops by hailstorm. There were no immediate reports of casualties till late in the evening.

The downpour caused flooding in the affected areas. The worst-hit were dwellings in the low-lying areas where rainwater surrounded houses, shops and other structures and blocked people access to them.

The power supply network in many areas completely collapsed and the utility, Sukkur Electric Supply Company (Sepco), was struggling to handle the situation amid widespread complaints.

Most areas of the six districts were still without power when the last reports came in at around midnight.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2026