MITHI: Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds continued to batter almost entire lower region of the province on Wednesday, inundating low-lying areas, uprooting electricity poles and trees and blowing away roofs of many mud-thatched houses and poultry farms in towns and villages.

Almost all towns and their adjoining areas in Tharparkar district, including Mithi, Diplo, Islamkot, Chhachhro, Kaloi, Dah­li, Chelhar, Khensar, Vijoto and Dando Dandhal, continued to receive moderate to heavy rains, causing streams to flow downhill in Nagarparkar.

The continuous rains have multiplied joys of Tharis as it will greatly benefit the growth of their traditional crops and fodder for livestock.

BADIN: Heavy rain lashed Badin, Tando Bago, Talhar, Khoski, Pangrio, Malkani Sharif, Matli, Tando Ghulam Ali, Shadi Large, Golarchi, Nindo Shahar, Kadhan, Kario Ghanwar, Khorwah and other areas, submerging all low-lying areas and agricultural fields.

Strong winds and heavy downpour caused many mud-thatched houses in over a dozen coastal villages to collapse and blow away signboards and dish antennas fixed atop roofs of many houses.

The rain destroyed ready to harvest rice crop and caused drains to overflow.

Residents of coastal villages of Sajjan Shaikh, Kiryo Bhandari, Qassim Bucho and Haji Hajjam complained that the district administration had failed to take precautionary measures against expected rains in coastal areas. “We spent the night in fear; 35 boats of fishermen which had gone to deep sea have not returned yet,” they said.

Badin Deputy Commissioner Shoukat Hussain said that rain emergency centres had been set up to receive complaints, 16 boats were made available to meet emergency situation and buildings of 16 schools had been vacated to set up relief camps.

THATTA: Heavy rain and strong winds continued to lash Thatta and Sujawal districts intermittently, uprooting many electricity poles and trees and blowing away roofs of mud-thatched houses and poultry farms in a number of coastal villages.

MIRPURKHAS: Heavy rainfall hit Mirpurkhas and other towns of the district, turning roads and street into lakes and inundating all low-lying areas. It started raining late on Tuesday night and continued for half an hour and resumed on Wednesday noon with strong winds.

The rain adversely affected cattle market where livestock owners had come to sell their animals in a hurry to save themselves from huge losses.

HYDERABAD: Rain hit Hyder­abad and adjoining areas in the early hours, inundating low-lying areas and causing disruption in supply of electricity. Light drizzle continued till 8.30pm.

A number of trees in Latifabad No. 6, Phulelli and other areas were uprooted by heavy rain and accompanying strong winds.

The Meteorological office in Karachi recorded 18.2 mm rain, from 5am to 5pm, in Hyderabad and forecast heavy and very heavy rain and thunderstorm with isolated heavy rainfall and strong dusty winds in next 24 hours.

In also rained in Tando Moham­mad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Mati­ari and Jamshoro.

SANGHAR: Heavy rain battered most parts of the district, including the towns of Tando Adam, Shahdadpur, Sinjhoro, Khipro and Jam Nawaz Ali. All low-lying areas and agricultural fields were submerged in rainwater. Cotton growers expressed the fear that more rain at this time would damage their crops.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2017