FAISALABAD, May 30: Hundreds of people of Mamukanjan staged a protest demonstration, blocked traffic and marched through different city roads on Sunday against discharge of chemical effluent in a drain by some industrial units.

The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with their demands. They also chanted slogans against the district administration and officials of the irrigation and environment departments.

The area MNA, Safdar Shakir, also visited the protest camp and assured them that the matter would be raised in the National Assembly. Addressing the villagers, the councillors and Nazims threatened to tender their resignations against the reported apathy of the officials concerned.

They said over 100 industrial units were disposing of their untreated chemical waste in the drain, posing a serious health hazard. They said the open drain had become a 'deathtrap' for the residents of Mamukanjan and its adjoining towns due to seepage of poisonous water and its mixing with the underground water.

SUICIDE: A boy committed suicide by taking poisonous pills over a family dispute in Chak 511-GB here on Sunday. Qadar Ahmed, son of a poor labourer, had quarrelled with his family over a domestic issue.