Eight killed after alam falls on power line in Shikarpur

SHIKARPUR: Eight people were killed and around 15 others were injured after a 30-foot alam came into contact with an 11KV electricity line in Shikarpur district, officials said.

SSP Shikarpur Muhammad Kaleem Malik confirmed the death toll and said the incident took place in village Baddo in the Dakhan area. According to him, the alam associated with Ghazi Abbas (RA) was being raised with ropes at Imambargah Noor Hussain Shah when it slipped from the hands of participants and struck the transmission wires.

The victims were identified as Deen Muhammad Lolai, Shafiq Lolai, Khalid Lolai, Arbab Lolai, Hidayatullah Lolai, Zahid Lolai, Abdul Waheed Lolai and Muhammad Hassan Solangi. All eight were declared dead on arrival at the local government hospital. The injured suffered burns and other wounds in the incident.

Deputy Commissioner Shakeel Abro said he would write to the Sindh government to seek financial compensation for the bereaved families. Riaz Lolai, the brother of one of the deceased, said the injured had to be taken to hospital in commercial cabs because ambulances were not available. On Monday, a joint Namaz-e-Janaza for all eight victims was held in the village in the presence of the SSP, the deputy commissioner, District Council Chairman Zulfiqar Khan Kamario and other local figures. Residents later raised the alam again during the day.