A 24-year-old cattle seller, Qaiser Abbasi, died from heatstroke at Bhatta Chowk Cattle Market. The deceased belonged to Ada Morr Mandi area of Jhang and had come to the city with his elder brother a week ago to sell sacrificial animals.
The deceased cousin Ghulam Farid told the media that there has been no drinking water for people and animals at the cattle market for the past two days.
“Qaiser, as usual, was tending cattle in the scorching heat, when he suddenly fainted. The other traders tried their best to bring him to consciousness, but he did not respond. After which he was shifted to a nearby hospital where the doctors confirmed him dead.
One of the family members of the traders, Muhammad Hussain, said that they did not have drinking water for two days. The traders also complained to the contractor, but he didn’t pay any heed. Despite the extreme heat and confinement in Rawalpindi, the scarcity of drinking water has disturbed both animals and humans.
Read Heatstroke centre established
A cattle trader from Sargodha, Nasir Gondal, said that the administration has collected an entrance fee of Rs3,000 for big while Rs2,000 for small animals to provide water, electricity and other facilities in the market but there is no such facility at Bhatta Chowk Mandi.
The trader added that people from all over Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Kashmir have brought their animals to Rawalpindi for sale. However, the mismanagement has reached its peak.
The body was deceased has been shifted to his native town for burial while his cattle will also be sent back.
Other traders in the market have expressed deep sorrow over the death of a fellow trader and demanded the administration to take action against the contractor as he is responsible to provide necessary facilities to the people and animals to avoid such incidents.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2021.
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