Victims of Sehwan blast: Sindh govt to distribute compensation after Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's urs

Security plan for three-day celebrations ready

HYDERABAD: More than three months after the deadly terrorist attack in Sehwan at the shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, the victims and their families are close to getting the official compensation.

The deputy commissioner (DC) of Jamshoro district, Munawar Ali Mahesar, informed journalists that the provincial government has released a sum of Rs248 million to the Hyderabad commissioner.

"The compensation will be paid [to the victims and affected families] after the three-day urs celebrations [in Sehwan, which are starting from May 15]," he announced.



The February 16 attack claimed around 90 lives and injured 250 others, according to unofficial numbers. According to the DC, Rs1.5 million will be given as compensation to the families against each of the 86 people who were killed in the incident. The critically injured people will be paid Rs500,000 and the others injured in the attack Rs200,000.

Dozens of people die each year in Sehwan due to heat and while swimming in the town's two canals.

The district administration has also planned to establish camps providing drinking water and ORS. A strict ban under Section 144 of the Constitution will also be imposed on swimming in the Aralh and Danister canals.

Security for the celebrations

In view of the heightened security threat, the provincial government has planned to double the deployment of security and enhance digital vigilance.



The DC said 4,500 policemen and 500 personnel of the special branch, in addition to Rangers and Bomb Disposal Squad, will be deployed.

Traffic in the small town of Sehwan will be regulated by 400 traffic wardens while a parking space is being arranged several kilometres away from the shrine.

The activities in the town as well as inside and outside the shrine will be monitored through 270 closed-circuit television cameras and four drone cameras.



The DC said 50 male and 20 female doctors will be available round the clock at the local hospital while 40 separate medical camps will also be set up.

With the help of the Edhi Foundation, as many as 100 ambulances will be stationed in the town, Mahesar said.