The present spell of catastrophic monsoon rain across the country claimed 24 lives in Sindh, while it has also wreaked havoc on property and crops worth millions of rupees in lower parts of the province. At least three people were killed in rain-related incidents in Karachi. The rain was accompanied by power breakdown in some parts of the city.
Chief Meteorologist Dr Mohammad Riaz said Karachi, being quite close to the current range of monsoon system, might have more rain in the next few days. In Sindh’s Tando Muhammad Khan district, at least six people were killed and several others injured in incidents triggered by heavy rain. The six people were killed in a roof collapse and other rain-related incidents. In Badin’s Odho village, two girls were killed when the roof of their house collapsed due to heavy rain, television channels reported.
Local administration cancelled the holidays of all municipal officials and directed them to immediately return to duty to initiate relief activities. In Digri town, a roof collapse killed Raisan, 50, and her two-year-old son, while Maghan, Haadi and four-year-old Jamni were killed in a roof collapse in Jhuddo town. A child, Awedan Bhatti, was also killed in Jhuddo when a wall of his house fell on him.
In Mirwahgorchani town, Javed Malik, 25, drowned while bathing in rainwater drain. A woman was killed in Sahdi Pali town, while another was killed in Pithoro town when their roofs caved in. Two men were killed in Umerkot and Islamkot town of district Tharparkar while bathing in rain water ponds. In Alyani village, near Naokot town, two sisters were killed in a rain-related accident. Fifteen hours of continuous rain in Tharparkar, Mirpur Khas, Umerkot, Sanghar and other districts and tehsils of lower Sindh has turned streets into lakes and rainwater has inundated residential areas and business centres in the region.
More then 100 people, including women and children, have been injured in lower Sindh. Three major breaches have developed in Bhalo Bhatti minor near Jhuddo, Lundo Minor, Puran Minor and Mithi Minor near Naokot town, flooding thousands of acres of agriculture land and submerging hundreds of villages.
No chance of cyclone: Meanwhile, a Pakistan Metrological Department statement said there was no threat or chances of development of any tropical cyclone in the coastal region for the next 15 days or till the end of the monsoon season.
