SUKKUR, July 6: Lightning killed one person in Ghotki as a heavy dust storm coupled with torrential rain lashed many parts of the province on late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. The victim could not be identified. The storm started after midnight blowing away hundreds of trees, electric poles, signboards, hoardings and roofs of katcha houses.
The storm was followed by torrential rain which continued till Wednesday morning.
The Site area was the worst affected part in the city where wind and heavy downpour razed roofs and walls of many godowns to the ground.
Dozens of houses in the katcha area of Sukkur were also damaged while many persons were injured.
Life in these areas was paralyzed, and power supply in most of the areas was disrupted.
Roads and bazaars were inundated with rainwater, while no drinking water was available in the city as suction pumps could not operate because of power breakdown. Heavy rainfall also took place in Shikarpur, Kandhkot and Jacobabad where roofs of several houses were blown away, injuring nine persons in Shikarpur alone.
Dust storm and rainfall also hit Kandhkot, Kashmore and Jacobabad due to which power supply was disrupted in these areas for 12 hours.
It was the heaviest dust storm and rainfall in the area, and the weather was still cloudy in the entire region.
Heavy rain also damaged date crops completely.
LARKANA : Heavy rain lashed Larkana and Qambar districts on midnight of Tuesday-Wednesday, damaging seedlings, the relics of Moenjodaro and disturbing civic life.
The downpour coupled with strong winds lasted an hour and a half. The Met office recorded 42-mm rainfall.
Many areas were without electricity, the communication system broke down and trees were uprooted. The main roads of Larkana, Qambar and Shahdadkot were flooded with rainwater. Rain also damaged houses in both districts.
The DCO of Larkana has declared emergency in the city and towns of the district.
In some areas rain washed away paddy seedlings.
The Sindh Balochistan Rice Millers and Traders Association said on Wednesday rice stocks were damaged in Larkana, Shahdadkot, Usta Mohammed and adjoining areas due to rain.
MOENJODARO : Rain in and around Moenjodaro, which was measured at 40-mm, damaged the site structures, including the stupa and great bath.
The stupa and the granary had developed fissures whereas protective cover of the main stupa had developed cavities due to heavy rain.
Meanwhile, the DCO of Larkana, Ahmed Bakhsh Khokar, on Wednesday visited Kamal Attaturk Tower, Bagh-i-Zulfiqar, Akil, Nazar Mohalla, VIP Road, Lahori Mohalla, Karma Bagh, Murad Wahan, Ali Gohrababd and Naudero Chowk.
The DCO imposed a ban on selling kulfi , unripe and over ripen fruits and other things prepared from ice which may cause outbreak of gastroenteritis.
KHAIRPUR: Heavy rains disturbed life as rainwater entered houses and offices.
According to reports, monsoon rain started late Tuesday night at 3am and continued till 6am. Knee-deep water accumulated on roads and streets.
Early varieties of dates which had started coming to the market were damaged.
Seventy-one houses in Khairpur town collapsed. However, no loss of life was reported.
Electricity remained suspended for about 10 hours.
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE : Different towns of the district, Padidan, Darya Khan Mari, Phull, Tharushah, Bhirya, Bhirya Road, Kandiaro and Mehrabpur received moderate rains on Wednesday.
Thunderstorm started at 4am followed by heavy rains in the district for about two hours.
Power supply in Naushahro Feroze and Darya Khan Mari remained suspended for four and eight hours respectively.
NAWABSHAH: Nawabshah and adjoining areas received moderate rain followed by a dust storm on Wednesday.
According to Met office, Nawabshah city received 18.4-mm rain, and the temperature dipped to 36-degrees centigrade.
Sakrand, Daur, Bandhi, Doulatpur, Qazi Ahmed, Bucheri and other areas also received rain.