KHAIRPUR, July 11: Growers held protest demonstrations against the shortage of irrigation water in Gambat and Ranipur on Thursday.

In Gambat, the growers first held a protest demonstration and then observed a sit-in against the shortage of water in the Faiz Minor and Sales Minor-3 Agra.

The protesters said that due to the shortage of water cotton and sugarcane crops standing on at least a 1,000 acres had been badly affected.

They accused irrigation officials of selling water to the influential people of the area.

In Ranipur, the growers held a demonstration against the water shortage in Abul Wah and Daraza Minor.

The representatives of the protesting growers told newsmen that local irrigation officials were demanding bribes and when they refused to do so they stopped supplying water.

MAN KILLED IN ACCIDENT: A man, Raza Mohammed Bughatti (35), was trying to cross the Kumb-Nawabshah link road in Faiz Ganj on Wednesday when he was hit by a speeding car and critically injured. He was taken to the Nawabshah hospital where he died.