MIRPURKHAS, Oct 14: Hundreds of rain-affected people and activists of civil society started a march to Hyderabad here on Friday in protest against what they called the administration’s failure to distribute relief goods among rain-affected people without discrimination.

Asghar Narejo of the Cause (Council for All Under-privileged Segments’ Empowerment), rights activist Kanji Rano Bheel, Taj Baloch of the Sindh Graduate Association and Bheel community leader Mevan Kumar levelled corruption allegations against officials and urged the Sindh government to immediately replace them.

They called for removal of encroachments from the Dhoro Puran, a natural rainwater drain, and said thousands of rain-affected people had been deprived of assistance because of incorrect presentation made to the authorities and donors about disposal of rainwater from Mirpurkhas, Hussain Bux Mari and Sindhri talukas.

They said that about 80 per cent of the district was still under water.

Hundreds of head of cattle have died, many thatched houses collapsed and brick houses damaged.

They urged the government to enlist activists of civil society and representatives of scheduled caste communities in activities of district relief committees to ensure a fair distribution of relief goods.

They also called upon the government to announce a special package for landless peasants and set up schools in relief camps and other safe areas for rain-affected children.

They said their march would end at the Hyderabad Press Club.

Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz chairman Basheer Khan Qureshi briefly joined the march near the mango orchard of former prime minister Mohammad Khan Junejo in Sindhri and assured participants of his complete support.

He called for a judicious distribution of relief goods.