Five more die in rain-related incidents in Sindh

More widespread rain/thunderstorms, with scattered heavy to very heavy falls expected until Friday

At least five more people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in different areas of the province during heavy rains on Wednesday.

Reports from the Luqman area of Khairpur district said that three family members were killed when the roof of their house caved in, while five other members sustained injuries.

Talking to the media, the relatives of the victims said that their house had already developed cracks during the heavy rains. Most parts of the province on Wednesday continued to receive moderate to heavy rainfall due to which low-lying areas, as well as several hundred villages, were inundated by rainwater.

Declaring a state of emergency in the city, Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Abdul Ghaffar said that the city might get over 200 mm of rainfall within the next few days. Heavy downpour was reported from Umerkot, Badin, and parts of Mirpurkhas and Tharparkar. The hilly town of Nangarprkar received a little over 160 mm of rainfall during the past 24 hours.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has told authorities to remain on high alert in its latest forecast on the torrential monsoon rains and urban flooding in Sindh and Balochistan.

In the latest weather advisory issued Wednesday, the meteorological department said that a monsoon low-pressure area persists over eastern Sindh and adjoining west Rajasthan (India). The Met department said that widespread rain-thunderstorms with scattered heavy/very heavy falls — extremely heavy at times and accompanied by occasional strong winds — are likely to occur in Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushahro Feroze, Khairpur, Sukkur, and Larkana till August 19.

It added that the same situation was also expected in Ghotki, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Kambar Shahdadkot, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Thatta, Sujawal, Sanghar, and Karachi. Heavy rains are also expected in Lasbela, Khuzdar, Jhal Magsi, Jahfarabad, Nasirabad, Kohlu, Zhob, Pishin, Qilla Saifullah, Barkhan, Musakhel, Chaman, Loralai, Ziarat, Quetta, Mastung, Kalat, Panjgur, Kharan, Nushki, Awaran and Turbat from Wednesday to August 21.

The continuing wet spell over northeastern and southern districts of Balochistan will become intense during August 18-20, which may trigger flash flooding in Dadu, Jamshoro, Kambar Shahdadkot districts, and downstream.

Possible impact

The PMD said heavy falls may create water-logging or urban flooding in low-lying areas of Karachi, Hyderabad, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Umarkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad khan, Tando Allayar, Dadu, Jamshoro, Noshero Feroz, Shaheed Benazirabad, Kambar Shahdadkot, Larkana, and Sukkur districts today and tomorrow.

It added that torrential rains may trigger flash flooding or hill torrents in local nullahs of Zhob, Pishin, Chaman, Qilla Saifullah, Loralai, Jhal Magsi, Jafarabad, Nasirabad, Ziarat, Pishin, Khuzdar, Musakhel, Lasbela, Kalat, Quetta, Mastung, and Ziarat during the forecast period.

Persistent heavy rains over Khuzdar, Lasbela, and Hub and over the Kirthar Range may create extra pressure on the Hub dam, Thaddo dam, and downstream nullahs. “All concerned authorities are requested to remain High Alert and take necessary precautionary measures to avoid human and property loss,” the PMD added.

The rains in Karachi and across the country have killed over 600 people since the beginning of this year’s monsoon season, with Balochistan being affected the most as more than 180 citizens have lost their lives in rain and flood-related incidents.

Hanif Samoon is a senior journalist based at Thar/Badin and contributes reports from different districts of Sindh to Minute Mirror. He has won a number of awards, including the Agahi Award twice for his stories on health and child rights. He tweets @HanifSamoon1 and can be reached through email at [email protected]