DADU: A fierce fire swept through a village near Mehar town killing a child, injuring 20 other people, perishing a large number of cattle head and reducing 35 houses and tonnes of food grain to ashes on Sunday. Two more children were reported missing and feared to have been killed, the affected families said.

Initial investigations shows that the fire started from the kitchen of a house and engulfed the other houses one after the other in Bhali Ji Mianli village, some 12 kilometres from Mehar.

The deceased victim was identified as Fareeda, 6, daughter of Ali Akbar Mallah, and the missing children as Soona, 5, daughter of Akbar, and Sajan, 5, son of Peeral. The charred body of Fareeda was retrieved from a burnt down house while efforts were underway to trace the other two children when the last report came in late in the evening.

Residents of the village said that 25 cattle head were burnt alive and at least three tonnes of wheat and rice, besides all belongings and valuables of the affected families were reduced to ashes.

Eight of the 20 injured victims were stated to be in a serious condition but none could be taken to a government hospital, villagers said, adding that fire tenders stationed at Mehar and Dadu did not reach the village despite several frantic calls made by them.

No government functionary turned up at the village since the fire hit the first house at 2pm and raged through the village till 7pm, they added.

A group of affected villagers led by Pakistan Peoples Party Sindh Council member Waqar Ahmed Janwary held a demonstration against the local administration and urged the chief minister to take notice of its indifferent attitude.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2015

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