SUKKUR, March 17: Twenty-six houses were gutted and a large number of cattlehead were killed when a fire broke out in the Abdul Majeed Khoso village near Thul, Jacobabad, on Wednesday.

Some children were playing with fireworks which exploded and a nearby house caught fire which spread to neighbouring houses. Villagers informed the Thul Municipal Committee about the incident but, as its fire brigade was out of order, it contacted Jacobabad municipal authorities who sent a fire brigade.

The fire which broke out at 1pm was extinguished at 7pm as the fire brigade reached the village late. Those whose houses and other valuables were reduced to ashes included Abdul Majeed Khoso, Mohammad Panah Khoso, Dost Mohammad Khoso, Abdul Ghani, Mohammad Bux, Rafiq Ahmad, Abdul Rashid, Mohammad Ibrahim, Farid Ahmad, Dhani Bux Sarki, Hadi Bux Sarki, Komal Naseerani, Meeral Aseerani, Gul Bahar, Qurban, Baboo Gulzar Ahmad, Wazir Ahmad and Hamid Ali.

The victims, who were lying under the open sky, said their houses could have been saved if the fire brigade of the Thul Municipal Committee was not out of order. They demanded an inquiry into the matter and compensation for their losses.

KILLED: Gulsher Bilal was killed and Abdul Manan was injured after being hit by a Suzuki in the Capital police station jurisdiction on the Sindh-Balochistan border on Wednesday.

OPEN KUTCHEHRY: A joint open kutchehry was held by Jacobabad District Public Safety Commission chairman Ghulam Unnar and DPO Din Mohammad Baloch in the district on Wednesday.

The people complained of police failure to arrest bandits involved in kidnapping, murder, robbery and other crimes. They also alleged that police released the accused after receiving illegal gratification.

They said they had sent complaints to the DPSC on more than 12 occasions in this regard. The DPSC chairman and the DPO assured the residents that the culprits would be arrested in a week.