September 02, 2007	Sunday	Sha'aban 19, 1428

SEHWAN, Sept 1: Thousands of devotees were left stranded on Saturday in a massive traffic jam that gridlocked Sehwan-Bhan Syedabad section of the Indus Highway and Moro-Dadu bridge, leading to the shrine of Qalandar Lal Shahbaz.

The first day of the Urs to celebrate the 755th death anniversary of the revered saint was marred by mismanagement in all quarters, including traffic, health and other basic services. The scorching heat, too, made life miserable for the around two hundred thousand pilgrims.

Traffic policemen were nowhere to be found throughout the entire route of the shrine. Impatient drivers blocked the traffic coming from the opposite end which left many vehicles stuck up for hours.

No arrangements were made to provide basic health facilities, including first aid. Continuous load shedding was also witnessed, which made the heat unbearable for many, including women and children.

GOVERNOR: The governor of Sindh, Dr. Ishratul Ibad, inaugurated the Urs of Hazrat Qalandar lal Shahbaz; he laid floral wreaths and offered Fateha.

Talking to newsmen at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, he said that Sindh is a land of peace and harmony which is blessed with natural resources by the blessings of its saints.

He said that people of Sindh are peace loving, moderate and hope for a positive environment. He refused to make any comment on the current political situation.

DEATHS: Six devotees died in different incidents in Sehwan on Friday and Saturday. Four People drowned in Aral Canal and their bodies were recovered by Edhi volunteers.

They were identified as Faiz Mohammad, 60, of Landhi Karachi, Maroo, 60, of

Gujrat, Punjab, Mohammad Rashid, 40, of Chishtain town and Mohammad Asif, 22, of Karachi.

Two dead bodies were found in Degree College. One of them was a woman aged 50 and the other was a man aged 43 years. In-charge of Edhi Centre Sehwan said that two dead bodies of unknown persons were buried in Edhi graveyard in the town and the four bodies were sent to their relatives.