While residents of the coastal areas remain apprehensive about the potential destruction of their properties by Cyclone Nilofar, dwellers of drought-hit Tharparkar are hopeful the tropical storm will at least endow them with much-needed rainfall.
The rainfall will be a lifesaver for the Thar residents and their livestock, providing the latter with plenty of pastures to graze upon. “Like us, our animals are also suffering from near starvation,” said Mewo Kunbhar, a resident of Batala village in Nangarparkar tehsil. “At least they will be able to eat properly if there is sufficient rain.”
The cyclone is likely to hit parts of Thatta, Sajawal, Badin and Tharparkar districts. However, unlike the former three districts, Tharparkar is landlocked. The strong winds and thunderstorm will likely hit Nangarparkar and Diplo tehsils from the side of Runn of Kutch in the Indian state of Gujarat.
The meteorological department has forecast torrential downpour for Friday in southern Sindh, which also includes Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and adjoining districts.
The desert region is dependent on rainfall for crops and pastures as it is not linked to an irrigation network. While the time has passed for sowing seeds of desert-specific crops, grassland can always sprout.
According to Kunbhar, the persistent drought has made them so destitute that they cannot even afford to buy fodder for their animals, which they raise and then sell for a living.
Fear and uncertainty
Meanwhile, dozens of villages of the Nangarparkar and Diplo tehsils have been warned to evacuate to the relief camps. Janu Meghwadh, a resident of Chorio village, said the district administration had sent an ambulance to their village which had made the announcement for the evacuation through a loudspeaker. He said that the villages that have to be temporarily abandoned comprise a population of between 20,000 to 25,000 people.
“But we can’t afford to pay for the transportation costs along with our goods and livestock. The government has still not sent any vehicle for this purpose,” he claimed.
An elder of Cholisar village, Lachman Suthar, said the people will not be able to move out unless the government arranged for transportation. “We live in huts so there is fear that the gusty winds and heavy rain will damage them. Many people want to shift to safer places along with their livestock but there is no transport.”
The deputy commissioner Asif Jameel could not be contacted for his version about transportation and other relief arrangements. He had, however, told the local media on Wednesday that buildings of government schools will be used to provide shelter to the displaced people.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2014.
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