HYDERABAD:
The pre-monsoon showers swept through all parts of Sindh on Thursday and Friday, driving away the intense hot and humid weather but also entailing power outages, drainage woes and isolated incidents of human casualties. Two children died and 11 children were injured in an incident of collapse of the roof in a seminary in Tando Jam, Hyderabad, on Thursday night. Two adults including a woman were also wounded.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) recording up to 53 millimeters rain by 5.30 pm in Tharparkar, 49 mm in Shaheed Benazirabad, 43 mm in Hyderabad, 24 mm in Mirpurkhas, 18 mm in Badin, 16 mm in Thatta and Sukkur. Some towns in Shaheed Benazirabad appeared to be badly hit by the downpour as water reportedly entered homes and affected markets.
In Hyderabad Dozens of trees as well as transmission poles of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) fell on the ground during the downpour, causing widespread power outages. The HESCO’s spokesman Sadiq Kubar informed that five poles transmitting electricity from Qasimabad Grid station to Sarfaraz Baba Feeder fell on the Horse Ground.
The complaints about the outages and network problem of the cellular companies emerged from many parts of Hyderabad. The rains also laid bare the poor engineering employed while constructing or repairing roads as poodles of sewage mixed rainwater on depression spots appeared on all the major roads in the city, making the motorists wade through the accumulated water.
The road leading to Qadam Gah Moula Ali (RA) remained under knee deep water, making it difficult for the mourning processions and other visitors to the place to wade through the sewage mixed rainwater. The intermittent downpour continued through the evening.
Traffic remained jammed on key intersections throughout the day. Water accumulation on roads like Shahrah-e-Miran Muhammad Shah, Liaquat Colony, American Quarters, and Auto Bhan Road brought vehicular movement to a halt. Several areas presented the appearance of open streams, with manholes overflowing and traffic lights non-functional.
Urban flooding
Flooding was reported in all units of Latifabad as well as Qasimabad Phases I and II, Pakistan Chowk, Sarfaraz Colony, Timber Market Road, Tando Yusuf, Phuleli, Noorani Basti, and Goods Naka. In these areas, roads were waterlogged for hours, rendering them impassable and forcing vehicles and pedestrians to navigate knee-deep water.
The second largest city of Sindh witnessed a second consecutive day of torrential rainfall on Friday, severely disrupting daily life across the city. In just 48 hours, the deluge submerged key roads, flooded homes and shops, collapsed the drainage system, and exposed glaring failures in municipal planning and emergency preparedness.
In commercial hubs, rainwater entered shops and markets, causing property damage worth millions. Many homes, especially in congested neighborhoods, reported flooding of drawing rooms and basements. Roads began caving in under pressure, forming deep potholes and posing serious hazards for commuters.
Several graveyards in the city were completely waterlogged.
