KARACHI: Widespread downpour in Umerkot, Tharparkar, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Thatta and some other districts on Sunday left at least eight people dead and many others injured, besides playing havoc with civic life and electrical, telecommunication and drainage networks.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, chairing a high-level meeting in the office of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of lives, and directed deputy commissioners to provide immediate assistance to the affected families and ensure compensation in accordance with the official policy.
The meeting was attended by Adviser to the CM on Rehabilitation Gianchand Israni, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Rehabilitation Mustafa Shaikh, Secretary Irrigation Zarif Khero, PDMA Director General Salman Shah and other senior officials.
The commissioners of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad divisions, as well as the DCs of rain-affected districts and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) chief participated in the meeting through video link.
Eight killed in lightning, roof collapse and other rain-related incidents, say officials; Umerkot TMO suspended for ‘negligence’ amid emergency
The chief minister was informed that eight people had lost their lives and as many others injured in rain-related incidents across the province.
Giving a district-wise assessment, the officials concerned said that three people were killed in Tharparkar district — three of them by lightning strikes — while two others had accidental fall into rainwater-filled pits and one person died after drowning. Eight other people were injured in rain-related incidents.
Umerkot district, which received the highest amount of rain — 169mm — in Sindh, reported one death by drowning, the officials said, adding that one person was killed in a roof collapse incident in Badin district.
The CM placed the provincial administration on ‘high alert’ and directed all relevant departments to strengthen emergency preparedness and response measures to cope with localised flooding and infrastructural damage.
He underscored the need for safeguarding human lives and ensuring uninterrupted public services, being his government’s foremost responsibility, during the ongoing monsoon spell.
Taking a serious notice of the absence of Umerkot town municipal officer (TMO) from the district during the emergency situation, the CM ordered his immediate suspension, and directed the Local Government Department to ensure that all officers remain stationed in their respective areas during the monsoon emergency.
Briefing the meeting on weather conditions, Adviser Rehabilitation Gianchand Israni informed the CM that moderate to heavy rainfall was expected in Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions over the next few days, with cumulative rainfall likely to range between 20mm and 60mm.
PDMA Director General Salman Shah informed the meeting that over the last 24 hours, Umerkot taluka received the highest amount of rainfall (169mm) followed by Kunri (149mm), Kaloi (140mm), Diplo (135mm), Kingri Ghulam Mohammad (133mm), Latifabad (114mm), Hussain Bux Marri and Mirpurkhas City (111mm), Mithi (106mm), Dhali (104mm), Hyderabad Rural (93mm) and Hyderabad City (89mm).
The CM noted that rainfall in several areas had crossed the threshold of heavy and very heavy rain, necessitating heightened vigilance by district administrations.
Hyderabad Commissioner Fayyaz Abbasi briefed the meeting on the situation in the division following two days of rains across all its nine districts.
He said that the Hyderabad district recorded the highest cumulative rainfall of 360mm, followed by Badin (212mm), Tando Allahyar (102mm), Tando Mohammad Khan (99mm), Sujawal (80mm), Thatta (55mm), Matiari (49mm), Jamshoro (9mm) and Dadu (5mm).
He said that in Tando Mohammad Khan, the roof of two rooms of a residential house was damaged due to rainfall.
Breaches in irrigation channels
The irrigation secretary informed the CM that two breaches, measuring approximately 15 and 8 feet, had developed in the Mirwah Canals near Seerani in Badin district on Sunday morning.
The breaches inundated around 200 houses before emergency teams reached the area and plugged them with the help of local administration.
The chief minister directed the irrigation department to maintain continuous surveillance of canals, distributaries, embankments and other vulnerable structures.
He also ordered continuous monitoring of canals, drainage channels, embankments and flood protection structures, particularly in Badin, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad districts.
Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2026
