Karachi
The Sindh government on Monday cancelled the leaves of all the officials whose assistance would be needed for the recently declared rain emergency as relentless downpours resulted in the deaths of as many as 40 people across the province and caused substantial damage to properties.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, keeping the emergency situation in view, cancelled, with immediate effect, the leaves of commissioners, deputy commissioners, revenue officers, doctors and staff of hospitals, the veterinary department as well as other essential services officials, said a government spokesperson.
He directed that the affected people be shifted to safer ground and be provided with shelter, food as well as medical treatment. Shah also issued orders to the officers of the Livestock Department to take measures for the protection of farm animals in the rain-affected areas. He further stated that besides treatment, the animals should be provided with fodder.
The chief minister directed provincial ministers, MNA’s, MPA’s, office bearers and workers of the PPP to take part in relief activities and supervise the work so that the suffering of people could be alleviated.
Meanwhile, Rehabilitation Minister Muzaffar Shujra told The News that the continued rains in Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Matiari, Thatta and Badin caused the death of around 40 people and destroyed 250 homes.
He said some families have taken shelter in public schools in Jacobabad and Shikarpur, while the provincial government released Rs28 million for the rain-hit people of these districts. The minister and his team were personally monitoring relief measures in the affected areas as the met department predicted more rains for Tuesday (today).
Thundershowers predicted
The Meteorological Department has forecast cloudy weather with rain/thundershowers for Tuesday (today) in Karachi as warnings of heavy rains loom over the next 24 hours. The predicted downpours could cause flash floods in the Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad districts of Sindh.
An almost 100-year-old record of rainfall for Jacobabad was broken on Monday when 305mm fell on the city in 24 hours, a met official said.
During the last 24 hours, Sharea Faisal received 9mm of rainfall, Gulistan-e-Jauhar 7.8mm, Karachi Airport 7mm, North Karachi 5mm, Nazimabad 4.5mm and PAF Masroor 1mm shower.
Data collected by the met office showed that light to moderate and heavy to very heavy rainfall had fallen on a number of places in Sindh and at isolated parts of northeast Balochistan over the last 24 hours.
The amount of rain that game down was Tangwani 372mm, Jacobabad 305mm, Kandhkot 282mm, Kashmore 280mm, Sukkur 164mm, Rohri 152mm, Khairpur Mirs 150mm, Kingri 80mm, Kamber 65mm, Talhar 63mm, Tanbobago 60mm, Larkan 58mm, Jhudo 53mm, Nara, Badin and Diplo 50mm each, Kot Deji 45mm, Chhore 35mm, Digri 28mm, Barkhan 27mm, Moenjodaro 25mm, Kot GM, Mirwah, Sobodero and Faiz Ganj 20mm each, Chachro 17mm, Mirpurkhas 16.8mm, Mithi 16mm, Gambat and Tandoalayar 15mm each, HB Mari 11mm, Chambar and Shaheed Fazil Raho 10mm each, Sindhri 9mm, Zhob 7mm, Sanjhoro 6mm, Padidan 5mm, Nagarparkar 5mm, Sibi 4mm, Kalat 4mm, Dadu 4.4mm, Thatta 4.4mm, Hyderabad 3mm and Nawabshah 1mm.
According to met reports, there is a well-marked low pressure lying in Sindh and its adjoining areas. Strong monsoon currents would continue to penetrate the central and southern parts of Pakistan, particularly Sindh, the met report said.
The minimum temperature on Monday was 25.5 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature was 32.5 degrees Celsius with 63 per cent humidity. The maximum temperature on Tuesday would remain between 32 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius, the met official added.
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