As Sindh braces for more rain over the next 24 hours, at least 37 people lost their lives across the province on Tuesday while access to hundreds of coastal villages was cut off when roads were washed away.
Over the past five days, Sindh has been hit by widespread rains with Jacobabad receiving 481mm, Larkana 215mm, Sukkur 206mm, Chhor 137mm, Badin 108 mm and Hyderabad and Dadu recording 90mm rainfall. At least 58 people were reportedly killed and hundreds more injured in rain-related mishaps throughout upper Sindh until Monday.
Three people were killed in rain-related mishaps on Tuesday as torrential rains continued to pour down on the southern districts of Thatta, Tando Muhammad Khan and Matiari.
Like the past year, widespread rains have left many low-lying areas in Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Thull, Kashmore, Kandhkot, Tangwani, Badani, Sukkur, Khairpur, Madeji, Garhi Yasin and Larkana submerged.
In Kashmore, 17 people, including women and children, were killed as hundreds of katcha houses collapsed around midnight. Rice crops over 70,000 acres have been washed away.
A whole union council - Gulanpur - is submerged in knee-deep water due to the downhill torrents from Dera Bugti. Water from Balochistan also entered Shahi Wah and Pat feeders, threatening areas near Kashmore.
Three- to four-foot deep water has flooded markets and houses in different areas of Kandhkot, Kashmore and Jacobabad. Relief camps have been set up, but there is no food or medical care available.
In Shikarpur, at least five people were reported to have died. In Dadu, two men were killed in Mehar and Thari Mohabbat. Two more people were reported dead in Khairpur. In Larkana also, two people reportedly died.
In Jacobabad, which has received the highest rainfall in the province, two people lost their lives. Twenty people were washed away, according to a former union council nazim, Saleem Khoso.
In Sukkur, three more people died. Up to three feet water has accumulated in different localities. The water supply to the entire city has been suspended for the past 36 hours.
In Ghotki’s Beriri union council, Sarhad Town and Mohammad Younis Bozdar village are submerged. Many houses have collapsed in the village. A six-year-old boy, Yasir Khoso, was electrocuted near Mirpur Mathelo.
Breaches in several canals in upper Sindh has led to flooding.
In Karachi, 15 feeders of the Karachi Electric Supply Company tripped. The rainfall recorded in different parts was: Masroor Base 14mm, Shahrae Faisal 25mm, Saddar 13mm, Airport 8.4mm, Landhi 9mm, Old Areas Observatory 7mm and University Road 5.2mm.
According to the Met office, the low pressure that has been triggering monsoon rains is weakening over Sindh.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has announced a grant of Rs5 million to each rain-affected district in the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2012.
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