Crops worth billions damaged as heavy rains lash parts of Sindh

SUKKUR/HYDERABAD: Rain with thunderstorm damaged dates, cotton and other crops in different areas of Sindh on Saturday. Heavy rain with thunderstorm continued for the fourth consecutive day, while there is fear of flooding in Sukkur and other low-lying areas. However, the severity of the heatwave was reduced by the rains.

According to the data released by the Met Office, the highest amount of rain fell in Khairpur at 46mm, followed by Shaheed Benazirabad at 35.1mm, Sukkur at 35mm, Sanghar at 33mm and Rohri at 32mm.

In other parts of Sindh, Jacobabad received 22mm, Padidan 14mm, Larkana 12mm, Mithi 11mm, Mohenjodaro 8mm, Sakrand 6mm, Tando Jam 3mm, Chhor 3mm, Mirpurkhas 2mm and Hyderabad 0.2mm.

Roads were inundated in Sukkur, Daharki, Sultanpur, Kumb, Karoondi, Ripri, Faizganj, Padidan, Mubarakpur, Dodapur, Larkana, Naudero, Thari Mirwah, Chotiari, Gambat, Khuhra, Mohenjodaro, Hingorja, Darya Khan Marri and Akari Chodgi.

Moreover, Kandhkot, Qambar, Shahdadkot, Kandiaro and Hala appear to have been flooded, while the suspension of electricity supply has compounded the miseries of the residents. Matured date crops in Khairpur that were estimated to be worth billions of rupees have been damaged, along with cotton crops.

Five people were injured as a result of a house collapse during the rain in Kumb. The injured included Hajani, Shah Nawaz Kaladi, Shah Jahan and Ayaz.

Uth Palan’s small dam Nagawal near Jhangara in Sehwan broke due to the pressure of a flash flood, while water submerged many villages. The deputy commissioner has ordered an inquiry into the broken dam.

According to rescue workers, the villagers’ belongings were swept away by the flowing water, while onion and cotton crops were inundated by water as well.

Heavy rains in the Kirthar Mountains, the Kachho belt, and other parts of the Jamshoro and Dadu districts continued to lash the whole region with intermittent heavy, moderate and light rain spells, while the hill torrents added to the flows into the areas of Jhangara.

The Khudabakhsh Nohani, Usman Nohani, Shahaq Nohani and other villages were flooded, due to which the houses were damaged and the belongings of the residents were washed away.

The water released from the broken Uth Palan small dam started swallowing the connecting roads of the area. Rescue workers said that the flood water released from the dam has accumulated on the Masan slope near Jhangara.

The water level rose more than five feet on the Masan slope road, cutting off more than 50 villages located between Dargah Gaji Shah and Naing Sharif. Rescue workers said queues of passenger vehicles formed on the submerged road of the Masan slope.

Jamshoro Deputy Commissioner Riaz Hussain Wasan inspected the affected part of the Nagawal dam. The DC ordered starting the restoration work of the eastern part of the safety dam as soon as possible.

He appointed Assistant Commissioner Waqas Malik the inquiry officer to ascertain the causes behind the dam’s breaking, while Small Dam XEN Khan Muhammad would assist him in the inquiry.

The AC said the quality of the construction work of the dam would be assessed through the inquiry. He said the inquiry would find out how much of the money received for the dam was not spent, why the contractor left half of the work and what legal action was taken against him.

He also said the Nagawal dam is still in a safe position, as there are protective safety dams on the right and left banks of the dam, while part of the safety dam on the eastern side of the safety dam has broken, from where water continues to flow.

Meanwhile, light rain continued intermittently in the Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad divisions. Hyderabad, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Badin, Sujawal and Thatta remained cloudy throughout the day, receiving light rain at intervals.

According to the Met Office, a low pressure system from the Bay of Bengal was expected to approach Sindh from Rajasthan on Saturday night, and heavy rains would continue intermittently on Sunday.

Urban flood warning has been issued in most of the upper and lower districts of the province in view of the current system, which is expected to end on August 5.

Rainwater accumulated on the roads and streets of the Nawabshah city of Shaheed Benazirabad Division and of the cities of the Naushahro Feroze district, affecting commuters. It also rained in Dadu and Jamshoro, while the DCs have imposed a rain emergency due to expected flooding in both districts.

According to the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company spokesperson, 150 feeders of 11kV tripped due to the rain in Umerkot, Tharparkar, Mithi, Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Thatta, Badin, Matiari, Sanghar and Nawabshah. The tripped feeders included 22 of Hyderabad circle, 18 of Laar circle, 23 of Mirpurkhas circle and 87 of Nawabshah circle.