VEHARI, April 30: Aftab Khichi, the ruling party MNA and son of former district nazim Mumtaz Khan Khichi, inaugurated the gas pipeline installation at V Chowk here on Saturday night. Speaking on the occasion, he said he had fulfilled his promise made during his election campaign for the provision of Sui gas to the Vehari district.

SNGPL deputy manager Abdul Rasheed Arshed said the project would be completed with the collaboration of the federal government by the end of this year at a cost of Rs3.8 billion.

He said about 1.3 million people of this area would be benefited.

DCO Muhammad Ayub Qazi, Tehsil Nazim Mian Saqib Khursheed, MPAs Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry, Khalid Chauhan, Ayub Suldera, and former district nazim Mumtaz Khichi also spoke.

However, neither the district nazim, naib nazim nor any spokesman of the district government was present in the inaugural ceremony.

Meanwhile, passengers condemned blocking of the traffic on V Chowk and Railway Crossing from 6am to 11pm due to the inauguration ceremony. Women and children were the worst-sufferers who had to face hardships in reaching the General Bus Stand and other localities.

INJURED: Heavy rain accompanied by a powerful windstorm resulted in the collapse of about 14 mud houses and injuries to 12 people in Vehari and its adjoining areas on Saturday night.

Most of the town areas were without power for whole night as several electricity polls were also uprooted. Several low-lying areas were also awash with the rainwater.

College Town, Muslim Town, Danywal, 9-11/WB, Chak 24/WB, Peoples Colony were among the worst-hit areas where 12 people were injured in rain-related incidents. Among the injured were: Rafiq, Ishtiaq, Maqbool, Din Muhammad of Thingi area, Rajab Ali, Shafiq, Waheed of Mailsi, Akram and Rasheed of Chak 9-11/WB.