LARKANA, March 7: A civil society organisation observed the 278th death anniversary of Shah Baharo, a 18th century general in the army of Sindh ruler Mian Noor Mohammad Kalhoro, at his tomb here on Thursday and voiced concern over the dilapidated condition of the general’s last resting place.

Activists of the Sorath Cultural Organisation led by Jamil Gaad, Naveed Samtio, Shahid Langah and Juned Abro laid wreaths on the general’s grave near main municipal office and then demonstrated outside the tomb, urging the Sindh department of culture to take measures to preserve the historical monument.

They feared the tomb would vanish by bits and pieces if the department did not pay attention to it. The officials seldom visited the tomb and never took any measures to save it from the threat of salinity and rains, they said.

They said that cracks had developed in the tomb’s main structure during heavy rains which also damaged the building’s platform. Seepage of rainwater not only weakened the platform but also the tomb itself, they said.

The historical tomb would cave in if the department did not take measures on an urgent basis to save it, they said.

Shah Baharo was a brave and indefatigable general who fought 84 battles during Kalhoro rule and restored peace to Larkana when Sindh ruler Mian Noor Mohammad Kalhoro appointed him administrator of the area. In recognition of his services for the state, Mian Noor Mohammad Kalhoro built his tomb in 1773.

The secretary of culture, Abdul Aziz Uqaili, said the archaeological sites in Sindh including Shah Baharo’s tomb had been under the care of the federal government’s department of archaeology and museums for over 65 years. He said the Sindh culture department had taken over the sites just about a year and a half ago, and admitted the tomb had remained unattended since then.

He said that a comprehensive survey of all the monuments had been carried out and a plan for development schemes for their preservation had been prepared.