LARKANA: A man and his minor son were burnt alive when a fire broke out in a slum area near Shaikh Zayed Colony late on Wednesday night and completely gutted over 30 huts.

The victims were identified as Kamran Shaikh, 40, and his four-year-old son Raza Abbas. The cause of the fire could not be ascertained.

The victims complained about belated arrival of fire brigade to extinguish the blaze. They could barely save their lives and had to watch helplessly as all their belongings went up in flames, they said.

They appealed to elected representatives of the area and Sindh government to provide them shelter as the fire had snatched roofs from above their heads and now they and their families would have to live in the open in extreme cold conditions.

They complained that despite informing them of the incident, no elected representative bothered to visit them.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Ali Soomro, assistant commissioner, met the victims and assured them of provision of compensation after assessment of losses.

Local leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party also visited the fire victims and assured them of all possible assistance in their time of trial.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2021