SIALKOT, Aug 7: More than two dozen houses have been affected due to the erosion caused by the change in Chenab’s course along Bajwat’s villages, including Papeen, Khanu Bhau, Saddarpura, Gangwal and Kaliyaala because of heavy rains in the area.

The villagers blame the irrigation department officials for their slackness in taking protective measures in this regard.

A former councillor, Muhammad Shafi alias Chief Sahib, told journalists on telephone that due to the prolonged political tussle between some local politicians, no sincere efforts had yet been made to halt the large-scale erosion and save the houses and agricultural lands in the area.

The affected villagers, who have started shifting to safe areas, urged the government to take immediate steps to save their lands and houses from erosion.

RAIN: The low-lying parts of the city, including the district jail, district courts, railway station and Jinnah Stadium were inundated due to heavy rain which lashed the the district on Sunday.

The heavy rain paralyzed the political, civic and trade activities in the district as three to four feet rainwater was standing in the low-lying urban and rural areas.

The rain exposed the performance of the Tehsil Municipal Administration, negating its tall claims in this regard.

The MET office has forecast more heavy rains in both Sialkot and Narowal districts and in all the catchment areas of neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.