GUJRANWALA, Aug 8: Two minor boys, who went bathing at Nullah Khot, drowned on Friday, adding to the toll of the flood victims.

Information gleaned by this correspondent revealed that Zahid, 8, and Latif, 9, were bathing at Nullah Khot near Gunaur village when they were drifted into gushing water. They could not resurface.

The district administration had banned bathing in drains at Wahando a few days ago when two boys were swept away at Khot and Deg drains. However, people seem to have turned a deaf ear to the advice.

Meanwhile, Provincial Food Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal, along with the local administration officials, visited Wahando and other flood-affected villages.

The minister was informed that food and medicines were being provided to the affected people at the relief camps, and hundreds of stranded people had been canoed to safer places.

Surrounding the minister, the farmers demanded of him to declare some of the areas calamity-hit. They also requested him to waive agricultural loan, water cess and other taxes, as their paddy and other seasonal crops spreading over thousands of acres had been destroyed in the flood.

On the people’s complaint, the minister ordered an inquiry against the Daska and Sheikhupura irrigation SDOs for not reviewing the flood situation in the district. He appointed District Officer (revenue) Najam Ahmad Shah an inquiry officer.

Residents of the Wahando’s Gunaur, Dholan, Hayatian and other nearby villages have demanded the provincial minister that he should order desilting of nullahs Deg and Khot after the current monsoon season.

District Nazim Fayyaz Ahmad Chattha also visited the flood-hit localities.