Rain, dust storm trigger power outages across Hyd

HYDERABAD:

Large parts of Hyderabad were plunged into darkness on Saturday evening after the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) suspended power supply to hundreds of feeders as a precaution following a dust storm and light monsoon showers, while heavy rain elsewhere in Sindh claimed one life in a lightning strike.

HESCO spokesperson Sadiq Kubar said power supply was suspended from 157 of Hyderabad's 166 11kV feeders shortly after the rain began. Across HESCO's operational region, electricity was cut to 355 of its 722 feeders.

He said electricity would be restored in phases after field teams inspected transmission lines and confirmed they were safe for re-energisation before issuing clearance to the respective grid stations.

Although rainfall remained light to moderate in Hyderabad City, Latifabad and Qasimabad, heavier showers were recorded in Tandojam, which falls within Hyderabad taluka.

The rain also caused minor structural damage in the city. According to Rescue 1122, an outer wall of the pre-Partition Ganga Ram Niwas building, which houses the Mukhi House Museum near Pucca Qila, collapsed onto the road. No casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, heavy monsoon rains lashed Tharparkar, Badin and Mirpurkhas districts, where the downpour continued throughout Saturday.

A man, identified as Syed Taj Muhammad Shah, was killed in a lightning strike in a village near Naukot in Mirpurkhas district. Reports also said three goats and a camel were killed by lightning in Tharparkar, which had already witnessed three lightning-related deaths and several injuries on Friday.