SUKKUR, Sept 30 More than 20 localities in Sukkur are without water as the 20-inch main supply line could not be repaired even after the passage of three days.

The main water supply line gave in on Monday and could not be repaired till Wednesday thus depriving 20 localities, including Old Sukkur, Bakhar Chowk, Microwave colony, New Pind, New Goth, Pathan colony, Racecourse road and others, of water.

The residents of these areas are forced to fetch water from low lying areas of the city where sub-soil water is available through hand-pumps and electric-pumps. The taluka officers, taking advantage of the situation, are selling water tankers in affected areas at exorbitant price.

Donkey and push cart owners are also minting money by selling 20-litre water for Rs25 to 40.

Although these areas always suffer shortage of drinking water on one or the other pretext, while some localities including, New Pind, Microwave colony and others get it on alternate days.

A taluka municipal officer, Yar Mohammad Junejo when contacted told Dawn that repair work of the damaged pipeline was under way and it would take few hours more to restore water supply to affected areas.

However, supply was not restored till the filing of this report.

FIRE Three katcha houses along with households and stocks of grain were reduced to ashes when a fire broke out in Ghulam Qadir Mirbahar village near Kheerthar Canal here on Wednesday.

Fire broke out in the house of Dad Mohammad Mirbahar while meal was being prepared and suddenly engulfed the nearby houses.

Resultantly, three houses along with households and stocks of grain were reduced to ashes.

Later, the fire was put out by the villagers on the self-help basis.