May 17, 2002	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 4, 1423

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BAHAWALPUR, May 16: Four young labourers were carried off for want of drinking water in the sparsely populated area of the Cholistan desert near here.

Dawn learnt on Thursday that a contractor, Muhammad Siddique, hired Fida Hussain (35), Falak Shair (20), Mian Muhammad (30) and Punnoo (25) of Manza Musafir Khana area for the construction work at Toba Fida about 20 days ago. After finishing their work, the labourers set off for their home, but they lost their way in the desert. They desperately searched for water and any human inhabitation in the desert for almost 10 days, but to no avail. Even the ponds are dried up owing to the drought like situation in the desert area. At last they all died.

After listening to the tragedy, Yazman police, about 30 kilometres from here, rushed to the desert along with vehicles and ice blocks to retrieve their bodies. Their bodies, mutilated by beasts, were reportedly scattered at various places in the desert.