DERA GHAZI KHAN, Jan 27: The roof of one of the rooms of the centuries-old shrine of Hazrat Sakhi Sarwar has caved in and cracks appeared in walls despite its renovation and repair by the Auqaf Department about six months back.

The Auqaf Department had spent a hefty amount on renovation and rehabilitation of the shrine. It had also built a rest house there and completed the task about six months ago. Now a roof of one of the rooms of the shrine has caved in and cracks have appeared in walls. Despite several complaints lodged by the devotees, the department did not take the matter seriously.

Residents of Sakhi Sarwar and devotees of the shrine fear that any untoward incident can take place during the upcoming two-month long Urs of the saint. The urs begins in the last week of February and ends in mid-April.

When this correspondent contacted DG Khan zonal manager of the Auqaf Department, he declined to comment on the present condition of the shrine, and said he had recently been appointed.