QURHGON TEPPA, KULOB, April 13, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- heavy rainfalls have caused serious damage to the economy of the city of Sarband in Khatlon province.

According to the Sarband mayor’s office, torrential rain has affected a number of residential houses in the city and damaged more than 200 hectares of farmland sown with cotton and other agricultural crops.  “A special commission has been set up to assess the actual volume of damage caused by the heavy rainfalls,” the source said, noting that the city has not seen such heavy rains since 1985.

Sarband Mayor Himatullo Rajabov said, “We have planted cotton on an area of 800 hectares this year but the Sunday’s torrential rain destroyed some 200 hectares of cotton fields.”

According to some data, recent heavy rains have caused damage to the Bokhtar and Vakhsh in Khatlon districts as well.

In the meantime, the Kulob emergency management agency says heavy rains have affected 146 residential buildings and damaged 41 hectares of orchards in the Vose district.