'Not even a few inches of rainwater has drained out'

Mirpurkhas residens without power, water for over 48hrs

HYDERABAD: The moderate to heavy monsoon showers continued for the third day in the southern and central Sindh regions. Badin district received 22 millimeters (mm) of rain from Thursday to Friday morning while 18mm was recorded in Dadu district and 16mm in Thatta district.

Mirpurkhas district, where 35mm downpour was recorded on Thursday, experienced flash floods in the urban areas as well as prolonged power suspensions which led to water shortage in many localities. Mirpurkhas Municipal Committee, which is headed by chairperson of Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan, was blamed for failing to drain the rainwater which stagnated over the main roads and residential areas.



"It's as if the whole drainage system has choked. Not even a few inches of rainwater has drained out," Wasif Ali, a resident of the district's upscale locality, Satellite Town, complained. Many citizens blame the infighting between the two top officials of Mirpurkhas municipal committee, chairperson Farooq Jameel Durrani and chief municipal officer Shafiq Ahmed Shah, as the reason for the problems.

"The people have to wade through the sewage mix dirty water to come to the market. The sunken roads have hit the Eid shopping," Rizwan Ali, a trader at Shahi Bazaar, bemoaned. Prolonged or recurrent power suspensions and a water shortage have further aggravates sufferings of the city's dwellers.



Muhammad Junaid, a resident of Mehmoodabad which is powered by Mehmoodabad electricity feeder, complained that for the most part of 48 hours since August 30, the locality has remained without power.

"We are being told by Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) that there is a fault in the feeder and that we need to be patient until that fault is fixed," he bewailed.

Hesco Spokesperson Sadiq Kubar denied that the company resorted to widespread power supply cuts during the rainfall. Similar complaints also emerged from Pak Colony, Hameedpura Colony, Bhan Singhabad, New Town, Heerabad, Gharibabad and other residential areas.