SANGHAR, Dec 28: Even three months after heavy rains devastated the district, water is still stagnating in rural areas, causing immense hardship to people. Due to lack of coordination among different government departments the process of draining out rainwater is slow and pumping machines are not seen anywhere.

Union councils of Barhoon and Asgharabad of Shahdadpur taluka are the worst-affected areas. Local people have been drawing attention of the district administration and national and international agencies working for relief and rehabilitation of the rain-affected people, but no step is being taken to solve their problems.

Vast areas thickly-populated villages in Khero Sanjrani, Suleman Sanjrani, Bhaji Mori, Imam Abad, Mohammad Ali Bodani, Bachal Hingoro, Ramzan Talpur, Meevo Sanjrani, Guhram Bhanujo, Soomar Julhan, Khan Sinjarni, Tooh Bhanujo, Mir Ghulam Shah and Barhoon are still inundated by rainwater. Most roads and streets leading to the villages are under water.

In Shahdadpur-Barhoon, many roads, schools and hospitals are cut off from villages.

The underground water in 10 villages has turned brackish and people are appealing to the government and donors to arrange supply of drinking water.

Atta Mohammad Sanjrani of worst-affected village of Dhani Bux Sanjrani said the three wells in the village dug by an NGO, which were the only source of drinking water for over 40 houses, were inundated, forcing villagers to fetch water from places three kilometres away.

Barhoon which has a population of 5,000 people has been still under water for three months and its residents are facing an acute shortage of drinking water.

A water plant installed by an NGO two months ago has dried up.

The only middle school in the area was reopened a few days ago after three months.

Large areas in Tando Mitha Khan and Chak No 9 and 10 are under water.

The inhabitants of Tando Mitha Khan recently took out a procession from their town and demonstrated outside the Sanghar press club.

They criticised the district authorities for their failure to drain out rainwater.

They said they had lost crops, cattle and houses also, but did not receive any relief goods, warm clothes, blankets or tents.

A large number of rain-hit people of Kilhor union council also held a demonstration outside the deputy commissioner’s office and demanded relief goods.

The villagers said that over 5,000 thatched houses had collapsed but no relief, except ration packets, had been provided to them.

They said that 21, 18 and 16 villages in Deh Sadhnu, Sanhro and Dariri, had been inundated and around 15,000 people had been displaced. They demanded tents and blankets.

Most of the farmland in Barhoon, Ashgarabad, Kihore, Khadwari, Khahi, Bilwal Hingorjo, Kandiari, Garang Bunglow and Rooranjho are still under two to three feet of water, damaging the economy of the area.

A grower from Barhoon union council, Aijiz Talpur, who owns 130 acres of land, said he could sow wheat only in six acres.

Most of the farmers in the area fear that rainwater would be there till February, causing severe problems for Kharif crop.