KHAIRPUR NATHAN SHAH: Nine children were burnt to death and three persons injured as a big fire gutted 120 katcha houses in Faiz Muhammad Chandio village near Khairpur Nathan Shah and Dadu last night, victim family informed on Tuesday.

The fire also killed as many as 25 goats and 30 cows besides burning household goods, a tractor-trolley, mobile phones and cash worth lakhs of rupees. Locals put out the fire after hectic efforts spanning five hours as the fire brigade staff did not arrive at the scene despite repeated calls.

Those died were identified as three real brothers More, 16, Rasheed, 12, Alam, 10; one sister Nargis,5; two other brothers Abdul Rasool, 13, Hussain, 5; their one sister Saweera, 12; Zaman, 10, Rashid Chandio and Tahmina, 7. The injured were Bahar Chandio, woman Mota Chandio, and Juman Chandio.

The bodies were shifted to Taluka Hospital Mehar for medico-legal formalities and three injured were brought to Larkana hospital for treatment. They blamed the fire brigade staff for the loss they suffered, stating that the cell phones of the authorities concerned, including Dadu deputy commissioner, Khairpur Nathan Shah assistant commissioner, and chief municipal officer, were found turned off when they were contacted for assistance.

The deceased were identified as four-year-old Mour, five-year-old Abdul Rasool, six-year-old Tehmina and eight-year-old Sakina. On the other hand, several other persons were wounded when they attempted to bring the fire under control on self-help basis. The local police have shifted the dead and injured to hospital. It is pertinent to mention here the fire brigade and rescue teams failed to reach the affected villages after passage of more than six hours.