NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, July 20: Jalbani Minor developed about 40-foot wide breach at RD-34 near Lakha Mori on Friday inundating standing crops of sugarcane, cotton and rice over 200 acres and two villages.

Affected people of Ghulam Rasool Lakho and Mohammad Juman Lakho villages blamed irrigation officials for the breach and complained that the officials took so long to reach the villages that they had to start plugging the breach on self-help basis.

Later, the personnel of irrigation department also joined them. The breach, however, could not be plugged till the filing of this report.

STRIKE: A majority of shopkeepers in Bhirya town kept their businesses closed and participated in a rally, which was staged by townspeople in protest against unannounced load-shedding on Friday.

Led by Hafeezullah Arain, Kashif Arain and Abdul Raheem Abro the rally started from the Railway Station Chowk and terminated at the MCB Chowk.

The protesters complained that on the one hand the Hesco subjected consumers to unannounced load-shedding while on the other it was sending detection bills.

The officials concerned appeared unconcerned about their problems despite several meetings and requests, they said and demanded that the higher authorities should ask Hesco to withdraw detection bills and stop unannounced load-shedding.

INJURED: Fifteen people suffered injuries when a wagon collided with a truck near Kandiaro on the National Highway on Friday.

The injured including, Mohammad Panah Memon, Bachal Siyal, Aziz Phul, Nazar Hussain, Murtaza Solangi, Ghulam Rasool Maitlo, Raza Jarwar, Mohammad Yousuf and Mohammad Faisal Maitlo, were admitted to taluka hospital of Kandiaro.

Police have impounded both the vehicles.