DADU, May 28: Thirty-five houses were gutted and eight persons injured when fire broke out in Dillo Khokhar village, Mehar taluka, late Sunday night. A villager was trying to install an illegal electricity connection through an 11kv cable which fell down on the house. As a result, the house caught fire that engulfed neighbouring houses. A huge quantity of wheat, gold ornaments, clothes and furniture were reduced to ashes.

Eight villagers received burn injuries while trying to control the fire. They were taken to a hospital in Thareri Mohabbat where they were admitted.

Later, fire brigade called from Mehar put off fire. The affected families are sitting under the open sky as the fire has rendered them shelter-less.

ARRESTED: A bandit was arrested after an encounter in Misri Chandio on Monday, claimed the Khairpur Nathan Shah police.

According to the police, they recovered a Kalashnikov and 30 bullets from the possession of Ilyas Chandio.