Sindh's Chief Minister has mobilized local authorities as heavy rainfall causes widespread damage across the province
Sindh [Pakistan], August 19 : Local government minister Saeed Ghani informed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah that local authorities had been activated across the province due to the intense rains that affected several districts on Sunday, according to Dawn.
The heavy rainfall began on Friday night in the interior districts of Sindh and continued until Sunday, causing severe damage to drainage and electricity systems, leading to extensive flooding in both urban and rural areas.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted more substantial rainfall and thunderstorms for Sindh on Monday as well.
On Sunday morning, during a high-level rain emergency meeting at CM House, Murad reported that the torrential rains had inundated the highways. Additionally, waterlogging affected streets in Sukkur, Dadu, Jacobabad, and Naushahro Feroze.
He emphasized the need for decisive action to protect lives and property, followed by dewatering efforts, as reported by Dawn.
“I expect the entire government machinery— including district administration and local bodies, especially in the rain-affected areas— to be active on the roads, assisting people, and the irrigation department to patrol the canal and distributary embankments to prevent breaches,” said the Sindh Chief Minister.
The meeting was attended by Salman Shah, the director general of the Sindh Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Rangers DG Major Gen Azhar Waqas, representatives from Corps Headquarters and Komkar, and Weather Director Ameer Hyder, as per Dawn.
Commissioners from Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Mirpurkhas, as well as Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro and Sukkur Mayor Arsalan Shaikh, joined the conference via video link.
Earlier in August, at least 22 people lost their lives and several others were injured due to the devastating rains that struck Pakistan.
These heavy rains also caused significant damage to life, property, and infrastructure, with widespread flooding in Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Balochistan, and landslides in mountainous areas.