BADIN: Three members of a rain-affected family were killed when a dump truck loaded with coal rammed into a tent set up for internally displaced persons near a nullah, some 14km from here, on Friday.

According to the police, the family belonging to the Sami community were sleeping in the tent adjacent to the road near Ameer Shah Drain, Allahdino Shah village, when the dump truck hit it. Inayat, 22, and his sisters Afshan, 12, and Waseema, 14, died on the spot.

There are over 40 flood-stricken families living in the temporary shelters for about two weeks on food and water being provided by the authorities.

Angry people blocked the highway by putting dead bodies over there and raised slogans against the district administration. They were demanding justice.

The government has constituted relief committees to reach out to the affected families and support them in a transparent manner. However, these committees have failed, claimed an area resident Advocate Zahid Hussein Chadhar, adding homeless people had been left to die on the streets. He demanded a murder case be registered against the officials concerned. Badin Deputy Commissioner Agha Shahnawaz Khan and other officials visited the scene of the accident. The protesters called off their protest, after an assurance was given to them that justice would be provided to them. The DC also ordered deployment of police in the area, the driver was arrested and the truck was impounded.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2022