GILGIT, June 15: An eight-year-old boy drowned and his sister, 10, was rescued by volunteers after they slipped into Gilgit river the other day while trying to fetch water.

Sources said that the city had been facing water shortage due suspension of supply by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and people often send their children to bring water for drinking purpose from the river.

Police identified the victim as Fayyaz and the rescued girl as Naila, residents of Konodas locality, where following the incident people staged a sit-in and chanted slogans against the WASA. The sources said that police constable Fida Hussain, who was on medical leave from his department, saved the girl.

The Gilgit city has been facing severe water shortage, as the pipelines laid under the greater water scheme a year ago were now choked.

“For the past two weeks this whole locality is without water,” said Shamsullah, a resident of Kashrote.

The WASA with around 900 employees are doing no service to people while drawing their salaries regularly; they are burden on national exchequer, said Tahir Khan, a resident of Jutial. People have demanded of the chief minister to order provision of drinking water in the city. — Correspondent