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It is highly condemnable that entire villages were burnt down to the ground in Mehar district of Sindh and local authorities did not take any action. Even the Sindh government has admitted its failure in responding to the disaster on time.
More than nine people including children lost their lives, dozen suffered burns and 145 thatched houses were set ablaze in a village, rendering hundreds of people homeless. The fire erupted in a kitchen but soon engulfed the entire village due to gusty winds after a dust storm. The fire raged on for 12 hours during which locals made frantic calls for help but authorities failed to reach them.
A single fire tender was finally dispatched the next day on the chief minister’s orders. By then, the entire village was reduced to ashes, hundreds of cattle and animals had perished and local villagers lost their lives. A similar fire was reported in another village where a rice field caught fire and cause immense losses.
After three days, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed concerned authorities to probe the incident and vowed to take action against any negligence. He assured treatment and compensation for the victims but the damage has been done. If the district administration and municipality had taken quick action, then the lives and homes of the villagers could have been saved.
The chief minister said the fire brigade of the closest municipality was faulty due to which fire tenders were sent from other areas. The provincial government needs to concentrate on providing essential services in town and cities across the province rather than metropolitan areas.
Social media users were quick to point how a fire tender is being used to place party flags and banner instead of providing services. The government should take solid measures to avert the recurrence of such incidents in the future. There should be adequate fire-extinguishing and health facilities in all local municipalities. It also necessary to take action against any laxity in the relief efforts.
