THATTA, May 9: Hundreds of enraged residents staged a sit-in on the National Highway here on Sunday to protest against acute shortage of water in the town for two weeks. The highway blockade resulted in suspension of vehicular traffic for two hours.

Earlier, carrying empty pitchers, banners and placards and raising slogans against the taluka administration, the protesters marched through the main bazaar. Outside the press club, they broke their pitchers as a mark of protest.

Speaking on the occasion, Shehri Ittehad president Javed Memon criticized the taluka administration for its inability to ensure water supply to Thatta and surrounding villages. Rashid Jakhro said that a water channel, recently excavated at the cost of Rs4 million, had proved to be futile.