NAWABSHAH, July 18: At least 100 more mango trees were chopped down by labourers in the orchard of Syed Basheer Ahmad Shah in the Mehrabpur village, 14 kilometres off Sakrand, on Sunday.

Mr Shah, a former provincial minister and landlord, had started chopping down his 125 acres of mango orchard on Saturday in protest against shortage of water. Talking to this correspondent, he said he would not revise the decision. He said the chopping process might take more than one month due to the extreme weather.

He further said some people, including Sindh cabinet members, wanted to sabotage his programme but he would suggest to them that they should realize the situation prevailing in Sindh due to water shortage and should take steps to improve the situation. Idrees Dahri, manager of Mr Shah, said the chopped trees had been sold to one Mehar Chohan at Rs33 per maund.

BOY DIES: A 15-year-old boy, Pervez, resident of the Waris Ali Shah village, died after he was bitten by a snake on Saturday.