BAHAWALPUR: A man allegedly died at a free flour distribution centre set up at Khairpur Tamewali by the government under “mysterious circumstances” on Friday.

The man, identified as Safdar, allegedly died in mysterious circumstances after he had managed to collect the free flour bag from the distribution point at Khairpur Tamewali, say official sources and the Rescue 1122 staff.

The sources quoted eyewitnesses as saying that after getting the free flour from the distribution point, Safdar was putting the 10kg bag on his motorcycle when he fell onto the ground “accidentally” and died on the spot.

An official handout quoted the Rescue 1122 team, reaching the spot on an emergency phone call, as saying that the rescuers tried their best to revive the man, but he did not respond.

It said the rescuers then shifted the man to Khairpur Tamewali Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, where the doctors notices that his neck was swollen.

On being informed of the incident, assistant commissioner concerned also reached the spot.

According to the THQ hospital Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Atique, the deceased seemed to be a chronic patient of goiter and was not breathing when brought to the facility.

Earlier, five women had suffered injuries, one of them seriously, at Hasilpur distribution centre the other day.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2023