At least four people die in rain-related incidents as Biparjoy makes landfall

At least four people died in rain-related incidents while a number of electric poles and trees were uprooted in Sindh’s Tharparkar, Umerkot and Badin as Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall overnight, it was reported on Friday.

A day earlier, heavy to moderate rains with gusts started at about 8 pm and continued in different cities, including Mithi, Islamkot and Diplo.

District officials said that as of now, 81mm of rain has been recorded in Diplo, 69mm in Islamkot, 34mm in Nangar Parkar and 28 mm in Kaloi, while 122mm of rain has been recorded in Umerkot district.

“It is raining for the last 14 hours,” said Sajid Bajeer, a Mithi-based journalist. “Officials say it will continue for a few more hours,” he added.

Following the heavy rain, the power supply was cut off in Tharparkar district.

Sindh health department’s Director General Dr Irshad Memon told The Express Tribune that at least four people have died in the last three days. “All health department staff is in the field since last week,” he said.

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He confirmed that medicines, including lifesaving drugs, dog and snake bite vaccines, anti-biotics and ORS were available in all hospitals operating in the districts.

Memon also said that the families have been provided mosquito nets for children, adding that children will also receive an additional measles vaccine.

He added that the relief camps will be operating till June 19.

“There is no rain in Keti Bandar,” Abdul Shakoor, a resident of the area informed. He said that “there was panic that the cyclone will hit our region but the forecast was not accurate.”

The provincial government has said that the internally displaced persons will be sent back to their homes by June 19.

Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Sohail Rajput stated that the government has successfully relocated more than 82,000 individuals from the coastal belt. The provincial government is providing food and other facilities to 50,000 people in 81 camps, including 5,000 families in Malir, 17,050 families in Sujawal, 23,000 families in Badin, and 5,000 individuals in a camp in Thatta.

He said that after the reduction in the impact of the storm, the affected individuals would be sent back to their homes and the Sindh government will provide one week's ration to them.