KHAIRPUR, Aug 16: The growers of Thari Mirwah and Faiz Ganj Talukas continued their protest against the water shortage in Pakka Chang, Faiz Ganj Taluka, on Friday.

A big procession was taken out by hundreds of growers from the Weho Shakh, Ali Nawaz Shakh, and Faiz Ganj Shakh.

The protesters blocked the Khairpur-Kumb road for about two hours as a result of which vehicular traffic remained suspended.

They alleged that irrigation officials had created the shortage of water in these Shakhs since at least a month.

The traders of Pakka Chang also observed shutter-down strike as a mark of solidarity with the growers.

When the police tried to clear the road off the protesters, the latter started to pelt stones on the police. The police retaliated by using tear gas to disperse them.

The growers of Sada Rang Wah, Bilawal Wah, and Sona Wah held a protest demonstration for the third consecutive day on Friday against the water shortage.

SUICIDES: A boy, Raja Sehto (13), committed suicide by taking poison in the Naun village near Hingorja on Thursday night.

A man, Saleem Awan, committed suicide by taking poison in the Brohi village near Halani on Thursday.