January 25, 2008	Friday	Muharram 15, 1429

DADU, Jan 24: Severe cold claimed the lives of an infant and an old woman in Johi on Thursday. The victims were identified as eight-year-old Zamir Lashari and Fatima aged 75.

Severe cold weather has gripped the rural areas of Sindh, like other parts of the country, these days. Many poor villagers have no means to keep themselves warm during night hours except lighting bonfire. However they find it difficult to gather wood for bonfire, leaving them at the mercy of harsh weather.

PROTEST: Residents protested against unannounced loadshedding here on Thursday.

Led by social workers, Mohammad Sadique, Jabbar Babar and Mohammad Channa, the protesters said the Hesco officials had been suspending power daily for six and seven hours in the city and its surrounding areas.

Mr Babbar said the unannounced loadshedding had been affecting their businesses and routine life of the people.

He appealed to the caretaker federal Minister for Water and Power to take immediate notice of the matter.

WATER RELEASE: Irrigation officials continued releasing poisonous water from Manchhar Lake into the River Indus on Thursday.

Irrigation cell officer Inayat Channa told Dawn that 80 cusecs of water from the lake had been released into the Indus through the Aral near Sehwan.

He said the water level in Manchhar lake stood at 112.35RL, while water in the Indus at downstream Sukkur was at 9,000 cusecs.