DERA ISMAIL KHAN, May 17: Hundreds of protesters blocked Dera-Tank road for more than three hours against the shortage of drinking water here on Monday. The protesters led by Mohammad Ramzan, a Kanori Union Council councillor, cut roadside trees and blocked the road near Hathala from 6am to 9:30am.

They were demanding provision of potable water, saying that during the past six months, residents of several villages had faced severe problems due to non-availability of drinking water. They said the residents fetched water for their daily use from far-off areas.

The protesters said that two tube-wells in the area were out of order since long, adding that despite several complaints lodged with the authorities concerned no action had been taken in this regard. They also raised slogans against elected representatives, district nazims of Dera Ismail Khan and Tank and government officials.