GUJRANWALA, Jan 23: Widespread rain which continued intermittently for two days would have a positive impact on wheat and other crops, said farmers here on Sunday. The rain started on Friday, the Eid day, and continued till Saturday night.

They said the rain was a blessing as there was a water shortage in the country. They expressed the hope that the country would have a bumper wheat crop this year too. Meanwhile, people faced a lot of problems due to muddy streets and bazaars. Moreover, people preferred to remain indoors despite Eid due to severe cold.

Three killed: Three people were killed while two dozen others sustained injuries in two separate road accidents in and around the city during the last two days. A passenger bus was on its way to Sheikhupura from Gujranwala.

Near Maraliwala village, it collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite side. As a result, Noor Hussain and Rashid Ahmad died on the spot while about a dozen others received injuries.

Another bus, going to Hafizabad from Gujranwala, rammed into a roadside tree after skidding off the road due to rain. Passenger Shehbaz Ahmad of Qila Dedar Singh died on the spot while about a dozen others suffered injuries. They were rushed to the local DHQ Hospital in critical condition. Bodies of the deceased were handed over to their heirs.

THRASHED: A bus crew beat up two constables of Ghakkhar town and tore apart their uniform on Sunday for trying to arrest a proclaimed offender from the vehicle on the GT Road.

Constables Javed and Amin were patrolling on Nat Kalan link road. They got a tip-off that PO Imran, wanted to police in several cases of murder, dacoity and robbery, was travelling in a Gujranwala-bound franchized bus.

Conductor Zafer Iqbal and helper Asmatullah did not allow the constables to board the bus and instead thrashed them on resistance. Later, driver Arshed also attacked constables and tore apart their uniform. On receiving information, the SHO rushed to the spot along with a heavy police contingent and arrested the bus crew and registered a case against them.

SHOT DEAD: A landlord was shot dead by his rivals on Eid day over a land dispute in Kot Khizri, Wazirabad. Chaudhry Riasat Ali was on his way to meet his relative in Wazirabad by a wagon.

His rivals intercepted the wagon, dragged him out of the vehicle and shot him dead. Wazirabad Sadar police have registered a case against accused Bashir, Rafiq, Munawer and their accomplices.

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