HYDERABAD, Dec 22 The Sindh Animal Husbandry Department has established an emergency cell at the its directorate in Shahbaz Building to help livestock owners and farmers in preventing spread of contagious diseases among livestock due to change in weather.

The director of the department, Dr Ghulam Sarwar Shaikh, said in a press release that the animals' immunity becomes weak during rains and cold, which may give rise to contagious diseases.

He advised the livestock owners to keep their animals at raised places under dry sheds and avoid keeping them at marshy and unhygienic places. In case of disease they should immediately contact the district officer of livestock or report it to emergency cell.

He said that Dr Tejmal Singh, disease investigation officer of Sindh, had been deputed to extend necessary help to livestock farmers. The livestock department and its officers had been alerted and foolproof arrangements about vaccination and treatment of livestock had been made at all centres, he said.

Wasa Water and Sanitation Agency managing director Shoukat Hayat Bhutto on Monday issued a contingency plan for water supply and sewerage during Moharram in the three urban talukas of the district.

He said in a press release that arrangements for enhancement in normal pumping hours of main water supply pumping stations, supply of water to water-starved localities through water tankers and removal of sewage accumulated along routes of processions around Imambargahs and mosques had been made to ensure an efficient sewerage system during Moharram.