June 27, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 15, 1423

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LARKANA, June 26: Thunderstorm, coupled with heavy rains in this district on Wednesday, claimed the life of a minor girl and caused injuries to at least seven people besides uprooting a number of trees and hoardings.

The minor, Firdous, daughter of Abdul Jabbar Qureshi, died when wall of a house collapsed in Kambar town. Wall collapse at another house, in Katpar Mohallah, injured Arbab Channa, Ghulam Muhammed, Aandal and Abdul Qadir Tunio and three other persons.

Electricity and communication system was paralysed in many areas of the district soon after the start of the downpour.

Rains and uprooted trees disrupted vehicular traffic in Larkana, Ratodero, Warah, Mirokhan, Shahdadkot and several other towns.

The storm pulled down an outer signal pole at Mahota railway station blocking the track.

Reports reaching here from different towns spoke of prolonged power breakdowns and in some areas power supply had not been restored for 12 hours.

PROTEST: Growers of Mirokhan and adjoining areas continued their protest for the second consecutive day, Wednesday, against water shortage.

They staged a demonstration at Jinnahbagh and demanded release of water in 20 distributaries originating from Mohbat minor in Mirokhan Taluka within the next 48 hours.

Led by a councillor, Noor Ahmed Seero, the growers accused the irrigation employees of selling water to the influential landowners of the area.

About 40 protesters, including Gulab Khan Khuhawar, Ghulam Farooque Buriro, Wahid Bakhsh Brohi, Muhammed Khan Mangi and Abdul Aziz Magsi observed a token hunger-strike on the occasion.

Meanwhile, 15 sacked employees of PTCL, Larkana, observed hunger strike at Jinnahbagh and demanded their reinstatement.

GAS SUPPLY: The Zila Nazim, Khursheed Ahmed Junejo, inaugurated the gas supply installation for village Selara, near Shahdadkot, on Wednesday.

The installation was approved in 1994.

Accompanied by Aftab Ahmed Memon, the regional Manager SSGC, Haji Sardar Ali Jarwar, Taluka Nazim of Shahdadkot and others, Mr Junejo held out the assurance that gas facility to more villages in the area would be made available.

Later, he visited sites of 14 ongoing development schemes in Shahdadkot, Qubo Saeed Khan and other areas. A total of one billion rupees are spend on these schemes which pertained to water supply, drainage, education and road construction.