A 90-minute heavy spell of monsoon rain struck Hyderabad on Saturday night, resulting in significant water accumulation on the main roads. Civic agencies were promptly engaged in dewatering efforts, particularly in low-lying areas.
The City office of the Meteorological Department recorded 29.2mm of rain between 9:30pm on Saturday and 8:00am on Sunday. Heavy rainfall was also reported in Mirpurkhas, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Sanghar, and several other districts.
A widespread power outage was reported across these areas. Hesco temporarily shut down 48 feeders in Hyderabad for safety reasons, with power gradually being restored by midnight.
Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Shoro and Aftab Khanzada visited the Hyderabad Water & Sewerage Corporation (HW&SE) pumping station to assess the situation.
Two individuals, Pervez Masih and Naseem Maih, sustained injuries when the rooftop of a house collapsed near Christian Colony, Unit No.6, Latifabad. Areas including Liaquat Colony, Cloth Market, Citizens Colony, Gulistan-i-Sajjad, Makrani Para, Sehrish Nagar, Sheedi Goth, Nusrat Colony, and Latifabad’s Units 2, 7, 11, and 12 experienced significant water accumulation.
Hesco reported that 214 feeders were impacted by the heavy rainfall in Jamshoro, Sehwan, Manjhand, Sann, Thatta, Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan, Matiari, Hala, Sanghar, and Nawabshah. Out of 624 11kV feeders in the Hesco region, 149 had tripped due to the rains. Specifically, 40 feeders were affected in the Hyderabad Circle, 30 in the Laar Circle, 19 in the Mirpurkhas Circle, and 60 in the Nawabshah Circle.
A major breach in the dyke of the main Rohri Canal led to the flooding of crops in Tando Adam and nearby villages. The breach occurred at RD-287, which had a discharge of 13,330 cusecs until recently. By Sunday evening, water had inundated Alam Dero and four other villages: Mithan Dero, Karim Dino Channa, Allahdino Channa, and Jurio Dero.
The district administration is arranging for displaced villagers, and relief work has commenced. Aslam Mari, Information Secretary of the Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB), noted that soil erosion at the breach site was reported two days prior, and villagers had warned irrigation officials about the vulnerability of the area. Sukkur Barrage Chief Engineer Mansoor Memon reported that the breach had widened to 50 feet and hoped it would be substantially plugged by Monday morning.
In Dadu district, more than 200 villages in the Kachho belt were isolated from Johi and other towns due to heavy rainwater flow from the Khirthar mountainous region. Villagers, along with their animals, were seen struggling with the floods. Superintendent Engineer Iqbal Palijo of the irrigation department reported that canals, rivers, and drains, including Nai Gaj, Nai Angai, and Nai Sori, were overtopping due to the heavy rainfall. Water in the Nai Gaaj reservoir was reported to be up to four feet high, a condition considered ‘normal’ under the circumstances.
