RAHIM YAR KHAN: Dozens of lady health workers (LHWs) and lady health supervisors (LHSs) held a protest outside the District Press Club against the alleged harassment by the district coordinator of the National Health Programme (NHP) on Tuesday.

LHWs association`s president Farhat Jabeen told the journalists that the behaviour of District Coordinator Dr Rao Shahzad Aslam was very inappropriate as he would harass them and misbehave with them during the meetings.

She said that LHSs had sent a written complaint to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) District Health Authority Dr Khan Wazir but to no avail, forcing them to take to the streets.

Jabeen said they would not perform their duties until provision of proper security and action against Dr Aslam. The LHSs stressed thatthey would continue their protest until the acceptance of their demands.

FIVE DROWN: Five minors drowned in the canals and water reservoirs in three incidents during the last couple of days.

Three brothers Abu Bakar (7), Usman (5) and Muhammad Ali (3), residents of Fatehpur Kamal, were playing outside their house on Monday morning, when they fell into the canal. Rescue 1122 recovered their bodies near Head Bangla Sheikhan.

On Tuesday, Azan (5), a resident of Amingarh, was taking a bath in a canal near Head Amingarh when he drowned.

On Monday, a 10-year-old child fell into Ahmed Wah Canal near Jamaldin Wall. His body could not be recovered.

The family of the child protested against the irrigation staff for not closing the canal.

CANAL BREACH: A 40-foot breach occurred in the BahadurWah Minor Canal near Fatehpur Punjabian along the national highway. The breach was reportedly caused by the weak banks and excessive release of water. The breach was initially 15-foot wide and it was later extended to 40 feet due to the flow of water. The locals informed the irrigation staff about the incident at night but no official responded.

Meanwhile, the neighbouring villagers started plugging the breach themselves with coordination of some labourers in the nearby mango orchards.

The of ficials arrived in the morning when the canal water had entered fields of Bast Shahi Chohan, Basti Maulvian and Adamwali, affecting the cotton, sugarcane andfoddercrops.

According to locals, the irrigation staff headed by Sub-Divisional Superintendent Zain Arshaad arrived at the spot at 8am and the breach was plugged at 12:30pm with the use of the machinery.